CHICAGO — The Illinois Department of Corrections says it won't reopen a shuttered prison in suburban Chicago to house protesters arrested during this month's NATO summit.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart floated that idea in recent days as he prepares for the possibility of a large number of arrests. Thousands of anti-war and other demonstrators are expected to descend on the city during the May 20-21 summit. Dart's office has noted that Cook County jail space is already severely limited.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday that the state prison authority has decided not to reopen the shuttered facility in Joliet.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Stacey Solano tells the Sun-Times that the former Joliet Correctional Center is "not an option." She didn't explain why.