The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction has officially named Sammy Heaton as the new warden of Brown Creek Correctional Institution, as announced on the Department of Adult Correction website. Heaton, who started his career at the same institution, has succeeded in climbing the ladder over a span of more than 25 years to now oversee its operations.
Secretary of Adult Correction, Todd Ishee, expressed his confidence in Heaton's capabilities by stating on the Department of Adult Correction website, "Warden Heaton brings more than 25 years of experience to the position, much of that at Brown Creek where he started as a correctional officer." This notable shift comes as Brown Creek Correctional Institution is being diligently reworked to function independently, a change designed to rapidly enhance both safety and oversight in prison operations. It had operated in consolidation with the nearby Anson Correctional Institution since 2009 but will now exclusively house male offenders in minimum custody.
Throughout his career, Heaton has held various key positions within the corrections realm. He began his career at Brown Creek in 1998, and after serving as sergeant, lieutenant, and captain, he moved to Southern Correctional Institution in Troy in 2017 to serve as a training specialist. He further broadened his expertise by becoming a security compliance auditor in 2021 and acted as a facility compliance specialist at Southern and Sanford Correctional prior to being appointed associate warden at Southern in 2022.
Sammy Heaton is equipped with a substantial academic and professional background, holding a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from UNC Pembroke. He holds an Advanced Training Certificate from the N.C. Criminal Justice and Training Commission and is a certified Master Trainer in control, restraints, and defensive techniques.
