For more than 32 years, corrections veteran Cynthia Thornton has served as the Division of Prisons Central Region director and warden at Harnett and Neuse correctional institutions after rising through the ranks in prison programs.
Thornton oversees policy development and management, accreditation and compliance, quality assurance and the PREA office. From 2020-2022, she served as the director of performance and standards for Prisons.
She has been an advanced Corrections Certificate holder since 1996. She has completed additional trainings including Emergency Management Institution, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; FEMA NIMS Multiagency Coordination System, NCDPS Correctional Leadership Development Program and American Correctional Association Auditor training. She has also served as a General Instructor, Unlawful Workplace Harassment Instructor, and Master Trainer for Ethics program for offenders.
Thornton is a member of the American Correctional Association and serves as a member of the resolutions and policy committee and the membership committee. She is also a member of the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation.
Thornton earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Appalachian State University.