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Brown, Sonja D
Status: active
Profile written August 30, 2026
This profile reflects positional accountability — this individual held the leadership roles shown during the dates shown, during which the listed deaths or lawsuits occurred. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding of personal culpability for any specific incident.
Tenure Summary
Sonja D. Brown’s GDC record begins in 2001 as a correctional officer at Johnson State Prison, includes a 2004 counselor posting at Central State Prison, and then shows a long run of social-services program consultant roles from 2011 through 2022. She moved into facility deputy positions as Deputy Warden at McRae Women’s Facility in 2023–2024 and Deputy Warden at Riverbend Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility from January through August 2025. GPS records show Brown has been Warden at Central State Prison since June 1, 2026.GPS records list Brown with a `total_deaths_attributed` value of 5. The `deaths_by_facility` table attributes all 5 deaths to Central State Prison. The provided records list no lawsuits naming Brown as a defendant.
What happened on their watch
McRae Women’s Facility — Deputy Warden, 2023–2024
GPS records show no deaths attributed to Brown’s deputy warden tenure at McRae Women’s Facility. The facility does not appear in the `deaths_by_facility` table for Brown.
Riverbend Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility — Deputy Warden, Jan.–Aug. 2025
GPS records show no deaths attributed to Brown’s Riverbend deputy warden tenure. No Riverbend deaths appear in the `deaths_by_facility` table for Brown.
Central State Prison — Warden, June 2026–present
All five deaths attributed to Brown’s leadership tenure occurred at Central State Prison, according to GPS records. The decedents, by incident date, are Richard Palmer, 57, on June 2, 2026; Raemonte Gentale Harris, 39, on July 3, 2026; Mickey Barrett, 64, on July 11, 2026; Demetris Raynard Keller, 38, on July 17, 2026; and Steve Allen Burk, 38, on July 20, 2026.
The records do not state a cause for most of these deaths. GPS notes for Palmer say GDC confirmed the fact of death on the June-2026 monthly mortality report, but that report carries no cause. Harris and Keller carry cause category 6 with no narrative notes. Barrett carries cause category 1; his notes contain GDC demographic and offense data, not a cause. Burk carries cause category 3, with a note containing “Beaten To Death” and “Source: Warden called me from the prison.” The record does not provide additional causal documentation.
The provided intelligence file also contains Central State allegations that predate Brown’s Warden start. According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting on DOJ material, Hollis Alan Bryant was stabbed to death in 2023 and three other prisoners were criminally charged, and Marquis L. Johnson was stabbed in the prison barbershop in December 2023 and later died. 13WMAZ reported in 2025 that three former Central State guards were accused of beating an inmate and attempting a cover-up, and that a guard faced charges after falsely imprisoning DFCS employees. These items are not counted among the five deaths attributed to Brown’s tenure.
Sources
- GPS personnel and death records: Sonja D. Brown profile, positions, `total_deaths_attributed`, `deaths_by_facility`, `deaths_during_tenure`.
- GDC June-2026 monthly mortality report — cited in the GPS record for Richard Palmer’s death confirmation.
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution — DOJ-related homicide reporting for Central State Prison (Hollis Alan Bryant, Marquis L. Johnson).
- 13WMAZ — reporting on guard misconduct allegations at Central State Prison in 2025.
Positions Held
| Title | Facility | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Warden 1 | CENTRAL STATE PRISON | 2026-08-27 → present |
| Warden | CENTRAL STATE PRISON | 2026-06-01 → present |
| Private Prison Monitor | RIVERBEND CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATION FACILITY | 2025-09-01 → present |
| Regional Operations Coordinator | RIVERBEND CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATION FACILITY | 2025-07-16 → present |
| DEPUTY WARDEN | RIVERBEND CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATION FACILITY | 2025-01-01 → present |
| DEPUTY WARDEN | McRAE WOMEN’S FACILITY | 2023-01-01 → 2024-12-31 |
| Deputy Warden | McRAE WOMEN’S FACILITY | 2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22 |
| SOCIAL SVCS PRGM CONSULTANT 3 | 2016-01-01 → 2022-12-31 | |
| SOC SVCS PROG CONSUL (WL) | 2015-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | |
| Lead Social Service Program Consultant (SSPC 3) | 2011-01-01 → 2011-12-31 | |
| Counselor | CENTRAL STATE PRISON | 2004-01-01 → 2004-12-31 |
| Correctional Officer | JOHNSON STATE PRISON | 2001-01-01 → 2001-12-31 |
Deaths attributed during tenure
5 people died at facilities under Brown, Sonja D's leadership.
| Date | Decedent | Age | Facility | Role at time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-20 | STEVE ALLEN BURK | 38 | CENTRAL STATE PRISON | Warden |
| 2026-07-17 | DEMETRIS RAYNARD KELLER | 38 | CENTRAL STATE PRISON | Warden |
| 2026-07-11 | MICKEY BARRETT | 64 | CENTRAL STATE PRISON | Warden |
| 2026-07-03 | RAEMONTE GENTALE HARRIS | 39 | CENTRAL STATE PRISON | Warden |
| 2026-06-02 | Richard Palmer | 57 | CENTRAL STATE PRISON | Warden |
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