Illinois lawmakers decry prison's 'gut-wrenching,' 'heartbreaking' conditions

Illinois lawmakers are calling for changes at the Joliet Treatment Center, after a Marshall Project, Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ investigation exposed an epidemic of fires that resulted in two deaths at the prison. In the last three years, there have been more than 70 fires at the prison, including a dozen cases of self-immolation, the investigation found. Despite the prevalence of fires, the facility in Joliet failed to have working fire alarms, to provide evacuation plans to fire officials or…