Howard County Inmate Population

Howard County holds its inmate population at the detention center on Waterloo Road in Jessup. The facility can hold up to 474 people and has been in use since 1983. There is no public online inmate roster for Howard County. If you need to find out who is in custody, you have to call the jail, check Maryland Case Search, or use VINELink. This page covers how to look up Howard County inmate population data, what the facility offers, and where to send records requests. The process takes a few steps, but the tools are free to use.

Howard County Inmate Population Search

Howard County does not run a public online inmate roster. That sets it apart from some of the bigger counties in Maryland. If you want to find out if a person is held at the Howard County Detention Center, you have a few options to try. None of them are hard, but you do need to know where to look. The main phone line for the jail is 410-313-5200. Call and ask if a person is in custody. Central booking has a separate line at 410-313-5300, which is useful if you think the person was just brought in.

The Howard County corrections page has general info on the facility. It does not list who is held there. You will not find a name search tool or a daily roster on the site. For that kind of data, the state tools are your best bet.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search lets you look up court cases tied to inmates in Howard County. Search by name or case number. Results show charges, court dates, and case status. This is not a live custody check, but it tells you if a person has a pending case in the Howard County court system, which can help confirm if they are part of the current inmate population.

You can see the Maryland Case Search portal in the screenshot below.

Case Search is free and works for all Maryland courts.

Howard County Inmate Alerts on VINELink

VINELink is a free tool that tracks inmates across the state. It works for Howard County. You can search by name or ID and sign up for alerts when a person's custody status changes. Alerts come by text, email, or phone. The system runs all day, every day. This is especially helpful for victims who need to know when someone gets released from the Howard County Detention Center.

VINELink covers more than 2,900 facilities nationwide. It supports over 200 languages. You can call 1-866-277-7477 for help with the system. For Howard County inmate population checks, VINELink often has the most up-to-date status when the jail phone line is busy or after hours.

Howard County Detention Center Details

The Howard County Detention Center sits at 7301 Waterloo Road in Jessup, MD 20794. It opened in 1983 and got an expansion in 1994. The rated capacity is 398, but the total capacity goes up to 474. There are 153 staff members who run the place. The facility holds pretrial detainees and people serving sentences under 18 months. The medical fax number is 410-313-5266. Howard County also runs a weekend detention program at this site, which costs $25 per day under the county fee schedule.

The Howard County corrections main page gives a broad view of the facility and its services.

The site links to most of the resources covered on this page.

Howard County publishes annual reports and data on the detention center through its publications and links page. These reports cover inmate population trends, program outcomes, and budget data. They are free to view.

The publications page is shown below.

Annual reports go back several years and include breakdowns by offense type.

The detention center FAQ page covers common questions about the Howard County inmate population. It addresses visiting hours, what to bring, and how to deposit funds.

You can see the FAQ page here.

The FAQ is a good place to start if you have basic questions about the facility.

Visiting Howard County Inmates

Howard County offers both in-person and video visits for its inmate population. In-person visits are non-contact. The schedule depends on the housing unit. You must register through the video visitation system first, even for in-person visits. You need a valid government-issued photo ID that is not expired. Each visit allows up to 2 adults and 2 children under 18. Kids must have a parent or legal guardian with them.

Video visits run through IC Solutions. On-site video visits are allowed twice per week for most housing units. Off-site video visits from home are limited to once per day for eligible units. Off-site visits cost $7.50 each. There is a catch with the platform. It only works on Windows and Android devices. Apple and iOS devices are not supported for Howard County video visits. Call IC Solutions at (888) 506-8407 if you need help setting up an account.

The visitor information page has the full list of rules and the deposit fee table.

This page also lists what visitors can and cannot wear or bring.

The visiting schedule and video visitation rules are on the visiting schedule page.

Check the schedule before you go. Times change by unit.

There are strict dress code rules. No see-through clothes. No low-cut tops. No tank tops or spaghetti straps. Shoulders must be covered. Bottoms need to reach at least fingertip length. No cell phones, radios, or other electronics are allowed inside.

Howard County Inmate Mail and Commissary

Mail for inmates at the Howard County Detention Center does not go to Jessup. It goes to a third-party processing center in North Carolina. All mail is subject to inspection. To send mail, use this address: Howard County Detention Center, (Inmate Name, Inmate ID), Facility ID Number 5306, P.O. Box 18247, Greensboro, NC 27419. If you send mail to the Jessup address, it will not reach the inmate.

Commissary is handled by Keefe. Inmates can buy approved items through the commissary system. You can add funds to an inmate's account online at Access Corrections, by phone at 1-866-345-1884, or at the kiosk in the facility lobby. The kiosk takes MasterCard, VISA, and cash in $5, $10, $20, $50, or $100 bills. It does not take $1 bills. Keefe's main line is 1-800-546-6283.

Deposit fees depend on the amount and method. Web deposits under $20 cost $2.95. Deposits from $20 to $99.99 cost $5.95 online. Amounts from $100 to $199.99 run $7.95 on the web. Cash at the kiosk is a flat $3.00 regardless of the deposit size. Phone deposits are a bit more at each level.

The incarcerated individual page lists all approved commissary items for the Howard County inmate population.

Items include shoes, socks, thermal wear, and personal photographs in black and white only.

Howard County Inmate Programs

Howard County runs a wide range of programs for its inmate population. The county partners with Howard Community College to offer GED and adult education classes inside the detention center. Literacy tutoring and computer classes are also available. There is a ServSafe certification course for people who want to work in food service after release. Vocational training includes CDL training, landscaping, flagger certification, and a beekeeping program that has drawn a lot of attention from other counties.

Behavioral health programs include AA/NA meetings, Seeking Safety, Thinking for a Change (T4C), anger management, and domestic violence counseling. Medication assisted treatment is offered for inmates dealing with substance use issues. The Strengthening Families Program helps inmates maintain ties with their kids and partners while in custody. Toastmasters runs a chapter inside the facility.

The corrections programs page gives a full list of what is offered.

The same page covers the weekend detention option, which costs $25 per day.

Religious services have been part of the facility since 1979. Christian Jail Ministry volunteers run weekly services. Muslim faith education and Catholic services are also available. These are open to any member of the Howard County inmate population who wants to take part.

Reentry Services in Howard County

Howard County puts more into reentry than most counties its size. The detention center has 3.5 full-time reentry staff, with plans to grow to 4. The program helps inmates with housing, job skills, and family connections before they get out. Housing funds come through Emergency Solutions Grant money. There is also a Reentry House that provides short-term housing for up to 4 men after release.

The LEEP Program is a 6-week course run by Howard Community College. It covers job applications, resume writing, and interview skills. GAWGO and financial education classes round out the reentry options. Reentry mediation helps inmates resolve conflicts that might affect their transition back to the community. All of these services are available to eligible members of the Howard County inmate population.

Work release is limited to inmates with non-violent offenses. They must progress to minimum security and finish the T4C program first. The program includes reentry case management and housing assistance, making it one of the more structured work release options in Maryland.

Howard County Inmate Records Requests

You can request Howard County inmate population records through the Maryland Public Information Act. Send your request to piarecords@howardcountymd.gov. The mailing address is Dept. of County Administration, Attn: Patrick Pope, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043. You can also call 410-313-4305. Under General Provisions Article Section 4-301, any person has the right to inspect public records during reasonable hours.

Fees for copies are $0.25 per page for black and white. Electronic copies are free if they already exist in digital form. If records need to be put on a flash drive, you pay the actual cost of the drive. Search and prep time is prorated based on the staff member's salary. Agencies have 30 days to respond to a PIA request.

The policies and procedures page covers rules that affect the Howard County inmate population.

These policies include rules on property, mail, discipline, and grievances.

For police records specifically, contact the Howard County Police Department records section at therecordssection@howardcountymd.gov or 410-313-3200. Their address is 3410 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043. The Howard County PIA page has forms and more details on the process.

Howard County Video Visit Portal

IC Solutions runs the video visitation system for the Howard County inmate population. The portal below is where visitors set up accounts and schedule visits.

Remember that the platform only works on Windows and Android. Apple users cannot use this service at this time.

Nearby Counties and Cities

Howard County borders several other Maryland counties. Each runs its own detention center with separate inmate population records.

Howard County Cities

These major cities in Howard County have their own inmate population pages with local details.

View All 23 Counties