The Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver announced on May 28 the promotion of Sonja Brown to Warden at Central State Prison, effective June 1, 2026. Brown will oversee staff members and approximately 1,143 male offenders in her new role.
“Sonja has consistently demonstrated her commitment and professionalism throughout her tenure with the agency,” said Commissioner Oliver. “We are confident that she will continue to uphold the GDC mission as she takes on her new role as Warden.”
Brown began her career with the Department of Juvenile Justice as a Correctional Officer at Wrightsville Youth Detention Center in 1997. After the facility was re-missioned in 2001 to Johnson State Prison, an adult male facility, she continued advancing within the department. In 2004, she became a Counselor at Central State Prison and later received promotions to Chief Counselor and Medical Unit Manager. In 2011, Brown was promoted to Lead Social Service Program Consultant in the Office of Reentry Services. She served as Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment at McRae Women’s Facility starting in 2023 before becoming Facilities Regional Operations Coordinator at Riverbend Correctional Facility in 2025.
Brown holds a Master of Science in Administration with a specialization in criminal justice from Walden University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology from Mercer University. Her departmental training includes Basic Correctional Officer Training, Corrections Leadership Institute, Basic Management Training, Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment Academy, and POST Instructor Training.
The Georgia Department of Corrections is responsible for supervising approximately 50,000 state prisoners across one of the largest prison systems in the United States. The department employs about 9,000 people statewide.
