Inmates at the Joliet Treatment Center in Illinois have resorted to setting themselves on fire as a desperate measure to protest what they describe as deteriorating conditions, including inadequate medical care, excessive force, and prolonged isolation. A joint investigation by The Marshall Project, WBEZ, and the Chicago-Sun Times has documented more than 70 fires at the facility over the past three years, with at least 12 instances of inmates igniting themselves.
Two inmates have died as a result of these incidents, and one lost a leg. One inmate, who required skin graft surgery for severe burns, reportedly stated his actions were an attempt to escape the unbearable conditions. Another inmate described the tactic, saying, "We try to talk and write to them, but they don't respect that. But when we act like animals and set things on fire and ourselves on fire, they listen."
The Joliet Treatment Center, which opened in 2017, was established with the promise of prioritizing therapy and psychiatric treatment over punishment for mentally ill inmates. However, former inmates and current reports suggest this vision has eroded. Patrice Daniels, a former inmate, noted that the conditions began to decline within a few years of the facility's opening, a process he believes was accelerated by COVID-19 related isolation measures and a shift to a more punitive approach after a new warden took over in early 2020.
Allegations from the investigation include repeated failures by prison staff to prevent or adequately respond to fires. In some cases, guards are accused of blocking gates and delaying ambulances carrying critically injured inmates to hospitals. For example, security footage reportedly showed correctional officers gathering near an inmate's cell during a fire, delaying the call for help via radio, and using a fire extinguisher and pepper spray through the cell door before leaving.
When emergency services were eventually called, prison employees reportedly downplayed the situation, initially reporting the fire was out and requesting assistance only to clear smoke, failing to mention an inmate was still trapped. The inmate, Jason Stephens, was found unconscious with a charred airway and later died two weeks after the incident. His ambulance was allegedly delayed for nearly 30 minutes by guards before being allowed to leave.
Another inmate, Latrell Edwards, also died two months after a fire in his cell, which left him with labored breathing and soot coating his throat. The facility, which houses approximately 200 inmates, experienced an average of three fires per month last year alone.
Experts, such as Craig Haney, a professor specializing in mental health in prisons, called these acts "desperate acts that somebody takes when they feel they have no alternative." However, the investigation also revealed a reported desensitization among some staff members to the ongoing chaos, with one mental health worker describing the scenes as "something the human brain was not meant to process."
Further findings indicate significant safety failures at the center. An electrician told investigators that the wing where Stephens' cell was located lacked working alarms and sprinklers. The Illinois State Marshal’s Office reportedly uncovered a series of safety deficiencies, including non-functioning fire alarms, disabled sprinklers, and a missing evacuation plan. The prison has declined to release the full investigative report into the fires, prompting lawsuits from The Marshall Project seeking access to these records.
In response to inquiries, an Illinois Department of Corrections spokesperson stated the department is "committed to ensuring the safety and security of staff, individuals in custody, and all persons who enter our facilities" and takes its responsibility for upholding safety requirements "seriously."