Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Warden Joseph Clark succumbed to wounds he suffered days earlier after being assaulted by a prisoner at the Joliet State Prison. Deputy Warden Clark and another guard were removing a prisoner, a convicted horse thief, from his cell when the prisoner struck Deputy Warden Clark on the side of his head with a rock obtained from the quarry. The prisoner seized Deputy Warden Clark's gun and fired several shots, but missed him. After regaining consciousness, Deputy Warden Clark gained control of his weapon and shot the prisoner in his arm. Assistance arrived and placed the prisoner into custody. Deputy Warden Clark suffered a severe cut to his head, but continued his duties at the prison. A number of days later, he experienced intense pain in his head and died suddenly. An autopsy determined that he had suffered a severe skull fracture during the assault. In January 1865, the prisoner was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On July 27, 1866, he was executed by hanging at the Will County Jail becoming the first person to be executed in the county.
Deputy Warden Joseph Clark succumbed to wounds he suffered days earlier after being assaulted by a prisoner at the Joliet State Prison.
Deputy Warden Clark and another guard were removing a prisoner, a convicted horse thief, from his cell when the prisoner struck Deputy Warden Clark on the side of his head with a rock obtained from the quarry. The prisoner seized Deputy Warden Clark's gun and fired several shots, but missed him. After regaining consciousness, Deputy Warden Clark gained control of his weapon and shot the prisoner in his arm. Assistance arrived and placed the prisoner into custody.
Deputy Warden Clark suffered a severe cut to his head, but continued his duties at the prison. A number of days later, he experienced intense pain in his head and died suddenly. An autopsy determined that he had suffered a severe skull fracture during the assault.
In January 1865, the prisoner was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On July 27, 1866, he was executed by hanging at the Will County Jail becoming the first person to be executed in the county.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Deputy Warden Clark served with the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Warden Joseph T. Clark is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Illinois Department of Corrections, 27 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph T. Clark's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph T. Clark Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph T. Clark is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph T. Clark was killed by blunt object; rock.
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Illinois Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
