An investigation by The Marshall Project, WBEZ, and the Chicago Sun-Times reveals a crisis at the Joliet Treatment Center in Illinois, where over 70 fires—including a dozen cases of self-immolation—have been set since 2023. Originally opened in 2017 to offer specialized mental healthcare, the facility suffered severe operational declines marked by prolonged lockups, inadequate medical treatment, and physical abuse. Government records detail critical safety failures, including broken fire alarms, missing sprinklers, lack of evacuation plans, and staff misconduct—such as guards blocking ambulances at the prison gate for nearly 28 minutes. These systemic breakdowns contributed to severe injuries and at least two deaths, including 38-year-old Jason Stephens.
Around 10 p.m. on July 27, 2024, a haze of gray smoke wafted down a hallway lined with prison cells at the Joliet Treatment Center. The window of cell A9 began to glow red as the fire within grew. Jason Stephens was locked inside. Minutes ticked by, and the smoke became so thick visibility dropped to a few feet. No one came to let him out.
According to an investigation by The Marshall Project, WBEZ, and the Chicago Sun-Times, more than 70 fires have occurred at the facility since 2023, including a dozen cases where incarcerated men set themselves on fire.
Key Impacts of the Crisis:
- Casualties: Two men have died from fire-related injuries.
- Severe Injuries: One man required skin graft surgery; another lost a leg.
- Frequency: The 200-person facility recorded roughly three fires a month in 2024.
Deteriorating Conditions and Unmet Promises
The Joliet Treatment Center opened in 2017 to provide intensive mental health care. However, incarcerated men and civil rights lawyers report that conditions severely declined leading up to 2024.
“These are the kinds of desperate acts that somebody takes when they feel they have no alternative.”— Craig Haney, Mental Health Expert, UC Santa CruzKey
Key Operational and Safety Failures
Government records and fire department incident reports highlight systemic failures in handling emergencies at the facility:
| Safety Category | Identified Failures & Violations |
| Infrastructure | Cellblocks lacked working fire alarms, operable sprinklers, or written evacuation plans. |
| Staff Response | Guards sprayed pepper spray into burning cells, walked away, and delayed emergency actions. |
| Emergency Access | Guards repeatedly blocked and delayed ambulances at the prison gate for up to 28 minutes. |
The Death of Jason Stephens
During the July 2024 fire, emergency responders pulled 38-year-old Jason Stephens from his cell after 30 minutes of smoke exposure. Stephens suffered severe mental illness and sickle cell disease, repeatedly seeking medical care before setting the fire.
Guards delayed his ambulance at the gate for nearly 28 minutes over administrative paperwork. Stephens died two weeks later from inhalation injuries.
A Continuing Epidemic
Despite public scrutiny, fires have continued at Joliet. In November 2024, Latrell Edwards died following a similar cell fire. The Illinois Department of Corrections maintains it is committed to safety, but staff members and former residents describe an environment defined by hopelessness and unaddressed trauma.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Originally published: The Marshall Project
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