Sean Reed
The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Allegations of prisoner mistreatment, intentional fires, and instances of self-immolation at a correctional facility in Joliet have led state legislators to call for increased oversight of state corrections.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker chose not to comment on the conditions of the facility.
A recent investigation by The Marshall Project found that over the past three years, more than 70 fires have been set at the Joliet Treatment Center. This facility, described by the Illinois Department of Corrections as housing “convicted adult male felons with severe mental illness,” has a low population.
The inmate-initiated fires have resulted in the deaths of two inmates within this period. The investigation and state records indicate that among these incidents, there were eight cases of self-immolation by prisoners.
State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, is among the legislators advocating for a comprehensive audit and more stringent oversight of the prison’s conditions and the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Pritzker, on Tuesday, refrained from addressing the incidents directly, instead referring to the IDOC and ongoing investigations. He defended the oversight carried out by his administration and related state agencies.
“We audit that, I mean, literally every day or, you know, at least once a year and, of course, where we have internal auditors who are auditing the way that the correction system operates,” Pritzker stated.
The facility began accepting inmates in 2017 and operates alongside a new $150 million facility serving as an inpatient unit. A 2025 report by the independent John Howard Association detailed inmate complaints about staff mistreatment and claims that some fires were started to attract staff attention.
“JHA spoke with multiple people who had suffered burns after setting fires, which some said they had done to get staff attention. One of them reported feeling that the environment enabled self-harm,” the report reads. “Someone with a burn wound reported that they had not received follow-up care.”
The investigation by The Marshall Project highlighted significant staff neglect and the prison’s failure to provide the mental health treatment intended when the facility was established.
Pritzker cited ongoing litigation as a reason for not commenting on the conditions at the Joliet facility. The Department of Corrections is currently facing a lawsuit from The Marshall Project seeking the release of reports on the numerous fire incidents, which were denied in a public records request.
“We have discovered lots of things that we have worked on including the challenges with the facilities themselves. As you know, we’re replacing some facilities,” Pritzker said. “So that plus mental health strikes me. I think we all recognize that if we want a better justice system from start to finish, we need better mental health care.”
The Illinois Department of Corrections received nearly $2.6 billion in the 2027 state budget. Calls for oversight have intensified following a report by The Center Square about a department payroll employee who admitted to stealing nearly $125,000 by falsifying her husband’s, another employee’s, records.
The IDOC did not respond to a request for comment.
