Jail death rates raising concern

HOUSTON (AP) – A U.S. Department of Justice report found the troubled-Harris County Jail has experienced an alarming number of inmate deaths due to poor medical care.

The report said 142 inmates had died at the jail since 2001.

The Harris County jail has come under scrutiny in recent years for the inmate deaths, including one last year that cost two deputies their jobs. It has also faced criticism for overcrowding, and poor mental health care.

Justice officials have declined to release the report, which was completed last week and obtained yesterday by the Houston Chronicle.

The report is based on July and August inspections of the jail along with a review of documents provided by the Sheriff’s office, which oversees the jail.

A spokesman for Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Keir Murray, said that the report is based largely on an inspection that took place before Garcia took office in January.

Murray told the newspaper about improvements that were made in each area the Justice Department criticized.