:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/IYKLIIB6BZ24CLUST23WUC6AWA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/OFNW56MAQJPTVP66RL4MOLMOHQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/UXO646CCKYR3GVDN6GW3PU2BZM.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/33DNHL6YXLT7XRSTA6MLHEOCGE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/ELAAEZ3ONJQTWSO2X4Y5NIZZWQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/T4I2RYLWCLFMLPZN7J3G5TGFPM.jpg)
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Monday for the 200-bed hospital to treat mentally ill prison inmates at the Joliet Treatment Center.
The state is building the $150 million hospital at the McDonough Street facility, which also houses and treats inmates diagnosed with mental illness.
The ceremony will be hosted by the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Capital Development Board.
The Department of Corrections settled a 2016 lawsuit requiring the state to provide adequate services to about 12,000 inmates who suffer from mental illness. The lawsuit was filed in 2007 after severe funding cuts.
The Joliet hospital will be 180,000 square feet and serve both men and women. It will employ more than 400 people, including physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists and correctional treatment officers.
State legislators, Joliet city leaders, and representatives of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 also are expected the ceremony.