At Joliet prison, desperate men set themselves on fire

Source WBEZ
Original Load Date July 24, 2026, 1:01 p.m.
Last Updated July 24, 2026, 1:01 p.m.
Original URL https://www.wbez.org/public-safety/2026/07/24/joliet-prison-fires-mental-health-illinois-department-corrections

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Around 10 p.m., 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 you could not see more than a few fee...