The Howard County Detention Center is a 475 bed jail in the city of Jessup, Howard County, Maryland. You can call them 24 hours a day for inmate information at 410-313-5200.
Offenders arrested for misdemeanors and felonies in this county are brought here for booking and processing, and if their crime requires it, are incarcerated until they are either bonded out, are released from custody on their own recognizance, or are ordered to remain in custody until the disposition of their trial.
You can also use the inmate search tool to see this facility's roster of those who have been arrested and are still in custody.
Those who are found guilty and sentenced to a term of less than one year, will do their time in this county. Those sentenced to longer terms will be sent to either the Maryland State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 410-313-5200, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.
It's always a good idea to find out and save the inmate's jail ID number or booking number as you may need this for sending mail or other communication needs. If you can't locate it online, you can call the Howard County Detention Center at 410-313-5200 to get it.
Phone: 410-313-5200
Physical Address:
7301 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name
Howard County Detention Center
7301 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name
Howard County Detention Center
7301 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Howard County Detention Center, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 410-313-5200 for the information you are looking for. You can also review Criminal Court Cases online for further information about an offender's case.
Howard County Detention Center Inmate Search
The Howard County Detention Center maintains an average of 475 offenders in custody on any given day. The Howard County Detention Center has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Howard County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 9,500 offenders.
The following charts of Howard County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.
The information is compiled from the Howard County Corrections Department, the state of Maryland Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Howard County.
For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Howard County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.
We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.
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The Howard County Detention Center in Maryland has a rated capacity of 475 inmates. It was opened in 1983 with a rated capacity of 108 inmates, but has since expanded to a 361-bed capacity. The facility has a daily average of 60 inmates. The Howard County Detention Center in Maryland is located at 9250 Bendix Road, Jessup, MD 20794. The contact number for the detention center is 410-313-5200. The Howard County Detention Center in Maryland has specific visitation hours. Female inmates assigned to general population visits can be visited from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, which is a temporary change as of March 2nd, 2018. Inmates housed on segregation are responsible for notifying their approved visitors of their status, and visitation hours are from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday only. All visits are non-contact and conducted through The Visitor™ video visitation system, which allows friends, family members, and professionals to schedule and conduct video visits.
The Howard County Detention Center in Maryland is a secure facility for incarcerating adults legally confined in Howard County, including pre-trial, pre-sentenced, and sentenced individuals. In 2020, the detention center was found to have violated ICE regulations by excessively strip-searching ICE detainees and failing to provide them with two hot meals per day. There have also been criticisms of the center's treatment of inmates, with former inmates sharing their stories of mistreatment. If a family member is arrested and taken to the Howard County Detention Center, it is recommended to assure them that it is okay to discuss their physical and mental condition, diagnosis, medications, etc., with the staff conducting the screening.
You can search for inmates at the detention center using various online inmate search tools. The Howard County Detention Center in Maryland is a secure facility for incarcerating adults legally confined in Howard County, including pre-trial, pre-sentenced, and sentenced inmates. The first jail in Howard County opened in 1878 on Emory Street in Ellicott City and was built to accommodate twelve inmates. The center has provided chaplains and comprehensive religious services since 1979.
All the information you need to know, and the questions you have regarding Howard County Detention Center inmate services can be found below.
To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Howard County Detention Center, call the jail’s booking line at 410-313-5200.
There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.
Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.
If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.
Howard County Detention Center Booking Roster
After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Howard County for booking.
Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.
Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Howard County and other Maryland and USA jurisdictions.
If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.
It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.
The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.
During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.
Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.
At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.
If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Howard County Detention Center will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.
Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.
If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.
Bail is what the arrested in Howard County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Howard County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Howard County Detention Center until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.
The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.
Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Howard County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Yes, Howard County recognizes most types of bonds.
Howard County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Defendants who qualify for bail may be released on personal recognizance, 10% cash bail, property bond or a cash surety.
Bail is set by the judicial commissioner whose job it is to determine if a defendant qualifies for bail, the type of bail to be set and the amount of that bail.
Bail is set at a bail review hearing. This hearing is set on the next available court date, usually within 24 hours unless it is the weekend or a holiday.
Yes, your attorney can request a bail reduction hearing.
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Maryland could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Maryland counties do not currently have an online bail payment system. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: go to the Howard County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Howard County.
This depends on the county the court is located in. Some counties only accept cash, money orders, or surety. Other counties also accept credit or debit cards. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Howard County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Howard County.
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
The Howard County Detention Center or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.
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How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Howard County Detention Center? What is the Schedule?
7301 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
410-313-5200
General Population
9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.(except Tuesday and Thursday)
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - (Not minimum security)
Segregation
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday and Thursday only
Special Management Unit
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Thursday and Saturday only
Medical Restricted Visits
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only
ICE Detainees
Hendricks Hall and H-1
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only
Inmates housed on segregation are responsible for notifying their approved visitors of their status and visiting hours. No exceptions will be made to visiting schedules.
Visits are 30 minutes long. Inmates may have two visits per week.
Inmates in E Unit, F1, F2, East Wing, H1, will no longer receive Face-to-face (in-person) visitation, unless approved by Director/Designee.
All visitations for these units will be done through Video Visitation.
Visitors must register and schedule visitations at IC Solutions.
Inmates in W1, W4, W6, and WF4, will no longer receive Face-to-face (in-person) visitation, unless approved by Director/Designee.
All visitations for these units will be done through Video Visitation.
Visitors must register and schedule visitations at IC Solutions.
Inmates can have two on-site video visits per week.
Inmates in East Wing, H1, W4, and W6 may also receive one off-site video visit per day.
Remote video visits are at a cost of $7.50 per visit.
Technical problems call (888) 506-8407.
In order to visit with your inmate online, you must first register with IC Solutions.
There are three ways to visit remotely with your inmate:
1. Using your personal computer.
2. Using the IC Solutions iphone or Android app.
3. Using the IC Solutions visitation kiosk in the jail lobby.
How it Works
Register or Log in here.
Registering and Scheduling Video Visits Instructions
'Understanding IC Solutions Video Visits' Instructions
Remote Visitation using the IC Solutions app
Download your phone app:
iphone
Android
Instruction for using the IC Solutions app
Cost of a Remote Video Visit
Video Visitation Rules
Understanding the rules completely are the responsibility of both you and your inmate. Not knowing the rules will NOT be accepted as an excuse if you make a mistake and violate them. Disobeying them could result in being banned from have future visits.
• Any inmate or visitor whose behavior is disruptive during a visit may have his/her visiting privileges suspended/terminated.
• All visits are subject to monitoring and recording.
• All visits must be scheduled 6 hours prior to the appointment or up to 13 days in advance.
• You must check-in 15 minutes prior to the scheduled visit.
• Valid picture identification (e.g., driver's license, State I.D., or Military I.D. with picture) is required of all visitors, with the exception of children under the age of 17.
• Visitors under the age of 17 must be accompanied and supervised by an authorized adult visitor.
• Visitors who 'arrive' after the scheduled start time may not be allowed to visit.
• Clothing must cover all private/sensitive body areas.
• The visitation schedule may be canceled or altered on holidays or for safety/security reasons.
• Howard County Detention Center can disconnect, deny, change, or cancel a visit at any time.
• Internet connectivity issues during offsite visits will NOT be refunded.
• Each visitation session will show a timer to display elapsed time.
• After your visit has ended your connection will be terminated automatically.
In order to visit with your inmate online, you must first register with IC Solutions.
There are three ways to visit remotely with your inmate:
1. Using your personal computer.
2. Using the IC Solutions iphone or Android app.
3. Using the IC Solutions visitation kiosk in the jail lobby.
How it Works
Register or Log in here.
Registering and Scheduling Video Visits Instructions
'Understanding IC Solutions Video Visits' Instructions
Remote Visitation using the IC Solutions app
Download your phone app:
iphone
Android
Instruction for using the IC Solutions app
Cost of a Remote Video Visit
Video Visitation Rules
Understanding the rules completely are the responsibility of both you and your inmate. Not knowing the rules will NOT be accepted as an excuse if you make a mistake and violate them. Disobeying them could result in being banned from have future visits.
• Any inmate or visitor whose behavior is disruptive during a visit may have his/her visiting privileges suspended/terminated.
• All visits are subject to monitoring and recording.
• All visits must be scheduled 6 hours prior to the appointment or up to 13 days in advance.
• You must check-in 15 minutes prior to the scheduled visit.
• Valid picture identification (e.g., driver's license, State I.D., or Military I.D. with picture) is required of all visitors, with the exception of children under the age of 17.
• Visitors under the age of 17 must be accompanied and supervised by an authorized adult visitor.
• Visitors who 'arrive' after the scheduled start time may not be allowed to visit.
• Clothing must cover all private/sensitive body areas.
• The visitation schedule may be canceled or altered on holidays or for safety/security reasons.
• Howard County Detention Center can disconnect, deny, change, or cancel a visit at any time.
• Internet connectivity issues during offsite visits will NOT be refunded.
• Each visitation session will show a timer to display elapsed time.
• After your visit has ended your connection will be terminated automatically.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Howard County Detention Center’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 410-313-5200 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Howard County Detention Center?
7301 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
410-313-5200
General Population
9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.(except Tuesday and Thursday)
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - (Not minimum security)
Segregation
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday and Thursday only
Special Management Unit
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Thursday and Saturday only
Medical Restricted Visits
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only
ICE Detainees
Hendricks Hall and H-1
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only
Inmates housed on segregation are responsible for notifying their approved visitors of their status and visiting hours. No exceptions will be made to visiting schedules.
Visits are 30 minutes long. Inmates may have two visits per week.
Inmates in E Unit, F1, F2, East Wing, H1, will no longer receive Face-to-face (in-person) visitation, unless approved by Director/Designee.
All visitations for these units will be done through Video Visitation.
Visitors must register and schedule visitations at IC Solutions.
Inmates in W1, W4, W6, and WF4, will no longer receive Face-to-face (in-person) visitation, unless approved by Director/Designee.
All visitations for these units will be done through Video Visitation.
Visitors must register and schedule visitations at IC Solutions.
Inmates can have two on-site video visits per week.
Inmates in East Wing, H1, W4, and W6 may also receive one off-site video visit per day.
Remote video visits are at a cost of $7.50 per visit.
Technical problems call (888) 506-8407.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Howard County Detention Center’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 410-313-5200 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Howard County Detention Center?
1. Online - Making a deposit using a verified Visa or Mastercard online, or using their Apple or Android App.
2. By phone - Dial 866.345.1884 to reach their 24/7 Access Corrections domestic call centers.
3. Jail Lobby Kiosk - Kiosks accept cash, credit cards, and debit cards.
4. Mail-in Lockbox - Friends or Family who do not have a credit or debit card can mail money orders to their secure lockbox to make deposits to an inmate’s account. Depositors use a customized form that captures all needed information. Upon receipt, they process and post the deposits to the inmate's trust fund in approximately 48 hours.
Money orders may be mailed to inmates at:
Access Corrections
P.O. Box 12486
St. Louis, MO 63132
Money orders must be made out to "Access Secure Deposits".
Include the state, city, inmate name and ID number on all money orders.
5. Walk-in Cash Deposits - Go to any Cash Pay Today location to deposit cash to your inmate's account.
Secure Deposits - Frequently Asked Questions
Secure Deposits - Video Tutorial on How it Works
Secure Deposits - Help Pages
Customer Service Contacts:
Phone: 866-345-1884
Email: [email protected]
Online Chat - Look for 'bubble' on bottom right of the page linked here.
To send commissary money to an inmate in Howard County Detention Center follow these steps:
For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Howard County Detention Center.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Howard County Detention Center’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 410-313-5200 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Howard County Detention Center?
To receive phone calls from inmates in Howard County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:
Note: All your calls with an inmate are recorded, stored and shared with law enforcement if the conversation deals with your case or any criminal activity. Anything communicated can be used against you or your inmate in court.
For all the information regarding phone calls with Howard County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Howard County Detention Center’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 410-313-5200 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Howard County Detention Center, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Howard County Detention Center allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
The Howard County Detention Center also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.
Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name
Howard County Detention Center
7301 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name
Howard County Detention Center
7301 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The Howard County Detention Center allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Howard County Detention Center standards will be disposed of.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name
Howard County Detention Center
7301 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
For inmates receiving mail in the Howard County Detention Center there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.
All mail is to be shipped to the Howard County Detention Center:
Inmate's Full Name
Howard County Detention Center
7301 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Howard County Detention Center’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 410-313-5200 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Howard County Detention Center, and what can I purchase?
Access Securepak carries over 1,000 different items in the following categories:
- Food and Snacks
- Personal Hygiene Products
- Electronics
- Apparel
Registration Process:
1. Register here.
2. Select Maryland.
3. Select Howard County Detention Center.
4. Find your Inmate.
5. Deposit Funds.
6. Order Commissary Items.
Once you are logged in, you will receive instructions on how much (and what products) you can send your inmate.
Contact Information:
* If you have any questions, you can call Access Securepak at 800-546-6283.
* You can email My Care Pack at [email protected].
* You can write them at:
Access Securepak
10880 Linpage Place
St. Louis, MO 63132
* You can Live Chat with a Representative online: (bottom left corner of page)
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m. CST,
and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. CST.
*Note* Access Securepak will issue a refund for or replace broken, damaged, or missing products reported by Howard County Detention Center staff. They will not honor reports of discrepancies from inmate's families or friends.
My CarePack is the Howard County Detention Center's outside vendor for Commissary Items. They have a very good mix of Chips, Snacks, Candy, Meat, Seafood, Hygiene products, Letter writing materials, Electronics and Apparel items for sale on their website.
*NOTE* -- Once you are fully registered and have selected the inmate you wish to send commissary to, you will receive instructions on how much you can deposit, how much (and what) you can purchase for your inmate, and how often you can send commissary.
To send commissary money to an inmate in Howard County Detention Center follow these steps:
For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Howard County Detention Center.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Howard County Detention Center’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 410-313-5200 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Howard County Detention Center using an Online Messaging Service?
Howard County Detention Center contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles Inmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.
Then use the Facility Finder to:
1. Select Howard County Detention Center,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
How Messaging Works
Watch this video on how to send a message.
1. Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message. Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
How Uploading Photos Works
Watch this video on how to upload a photo.
1. Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).
Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call 866-516-0115
To mail or email an inmate in Howard County follow these steps:
When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:
Emailing Messages & Photos
Facility_name_1} contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.
Then use the Facility Finder to:
1. Select Howard County Detention Center,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call 866-516-0115
Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.
All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for Howard County can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Howard County Detention Center’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 410-313-5200 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Howard County Detention Center have Access to Tablets or Computers?
The devices are similar to common handheld tablets, but are made exclusively by GettingOut, a GTL / Viapath company.
Tablets offer specialized content and services for inmates to use during their stay at Howard County Detention Center, such as:
- Free services are already available for use on the device at Howard County Detention Center.
- Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
- Howard County Detention Center Inmates will then be able to purchase subscription services and premium content to enjoy.
What Does a Tablet Cost?
To estimate costs for phone calls, sign in to your account and click “Rate & Fees Calculator” in the footer (bottom of the page) or call 866-516-0115 for assistance.
To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:
1. First, Register or Sign In to GettingOut/GTL
2. Purchase the services you want for your Howard County Detention Center inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.
To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Howard County Detention Center’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 410-313-5200 for further assistance.
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What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Howard County?
This facility, known as "Howard County Detention Center" is also known as Howard County Jail & Detention Center, Howard County Jail & Detention Center, Maryland, Howard.
