Prison superintendent named
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on September 9, 2011 5:22 PM
Cynthia Thornton is the new superintendent at Neuse Correctional Institution, an 828-bed minimum custody prison.
Neuse Correctional is the point of entry into the prison system for adult male misdemeanant offenders from all counties. It also processes felons with sentences of less than 24 months. The prison, with a staff of 311, has 590 beds designated for inmates going through the diagnostic process.
Thornton succeeds Ennis Oates, who was named administrator at Pender Correctional Institution.
Thornton was previously assistant superintendent for programs at Neuse Correctional. She began her career in 1991 at the now-closed Halifax Correctional Center as a programs supervisor, and advanced through positions at several prisons, including Neuse Correctional, before being named assistant superintendent there in 2008.
A 1990 graduate of Appalachian State University, Thornton has a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. She is a recent graduate of the Department of Correction's professional leadership development program.