Howard County MD Detention Center (ICE)

The Department of Corrections is responsible for the operation of the Howard County Detention Center, the Central Booking Facility, and the Community Service Program and is charged with providing a safe and humane environment to those incarcerated. This is accomplished by good security and control of the inmates, meaningful treatment programs and assisting inmates with their reintegration back into the community.

The staff of the Department of Corrections and partnering agencies are dedicated professionals who, along with many committed volunteers, strive to make the Department one of the best correctional agencies in the State of Maryland. The Department has established a practice of implementing “best practices” in the corrections profession. Also, the Department is utilizing evidence based programming strategies in preparing offenders for return to our community.

Howard County’s original jail, in Ellicott City, opened in 1878. The Emory Street Jail was built to accommodate 12 inmates. In 1975, the Division of Corrections was established under former County Executive Edward Cochran. Gerald H. McClellan was appointed as the division’s first Director of Corrections. Several years later, the Division of Corrections was established as a Department.

Due to overcrowding conditions and an antiquated facility, the Department of Corrections sought and received funding for the construction of a new Detention Center. The Howard County Detention Center, in Jessup, opened in 1983 with a rated capacity of 108 inmates and actually housed 63 inmates at opening; within five years, the inmate population had greatly exceeded its rated capacity. The Department of Corrections again sought and obtained funding for the expansion of the Detention Center. The expansion was completed in 1994 with a rated capacity of 361 inmates. Today the Detention Center has a maximum capacity of 474, and a rated operating capacity of 398 inmates.

The facility houses pre-trial offenders, as well as inmates sentenced up to 18 months.

Religious Services

Religious services for inmates are provided through volunteers and volunteer faith-based organizations. Christian Jail Ministry (CJM) has provided spiritual and pastoral services for inmates and their families since July 1979 as volunteers to the Detention Center. CJM programs at the Detention Center include various worship services, religious education and correspondence courses, pastoral counseling, individual discipleship training, and personal help. In addition CJM volunteers provide a gift giving program for the children of those incarcerated. Financial and volunteer support for CJM comes from local churches, individuals, and businesses. CJM employs one full-time chaplain and utilizes the services of several local pastors, who serve as associate chaplains on a volunteer basis to oversee the ministry and minister at the Detention Center.

Muslim faith education and Juma Services are offered at the Detention Center through the volunteer services of the Dar Al-Taqwa congregation in Howard County. A consistent number of inmates have participated in the services as well as weekly education classes. The congregation also provides religious material and Qu’rans for the inmates.

Catholic services are offered weekly for the inmate population as well through Saint Matthews Catholic Church. Additionally, an outreach group from this church pervaded monthly services for BICE inmates. Volunteer Deacon services provide weekly communion coordinated through St. Lawrence Parish in Jessup.

In addition The Department of Corrections is responsible for ensuring the religious needs of all inmates, regardless of their faiths, are appropriately address The Deputy Director has administrative responsibility for religious services. The Deputy Director can be contacted at 410-313-5204.

Project LEEP (Lifeskills Education Employment Program)

The objective of Project LEEP (Lifeskills Education Employment Program) is to provide participating inmates the necessary tools to seek and gain employment upon their placement on work release or release from the Detention Center. During each six week course inmates learn to identify what skills and qualifications they already possess, organize personal information and references, complete a job application, use a computer to complete a resume and cover letter, and practice interviewing techniques. During each session, students participate in activities to identify what skills, (life and work-related), and qualifications they already possess. Employability assessment testing is completed by each student. All students who complete a LEEP six-week course receive certificates of completion, congratulations from the Director and staff, and a packet of referral materials to aid them with their job search and/or continuing education.

The LEEP Program, which began in September 1998, under the Byrne Grant has been so successful that when the grant concluded in October 2001 the program received continued funding from Howard County Government. The LEEP Program continues to enjoy a successful partnership between the Howard County Department of Corrections and Howard Community College.

Maryland Community Criminal Justice Treatment Program

The mission of MCCJTP is to reduce the recidivism of mentally ill inmates to detention and mental health institutions through improving linkages to community resources, supports and health services. The Howard County Mental Health Authority monitors the MCCJTP program in collaboration with the Howard County Department of Corrections.

The MCCJTP program provides a licensed clinician who does both clinical assessment and treatment along with case management for those identified with a serious mental health illness in the Detention Center. The clinician also works with the legal system to provide clinical recommendations and treatment programming options rather than incarceration to the court. The unique component of this program is the establishment of a therapeutic working relationship by developing a community aftercare plan, and partnering the client and community providers to ensure a support system of resources and services for the client’s successful re-entry into the community.

Other services the MCCJTP program provides are crisis intervention and aftercare arrangements to inmates in the Detention Center while working with medical staff, correctional officers and the Administration to ensure proper care of clients who are vulnerable and who engage in high risk behaviors. Additionally, annual training is offered to the correctional officers on suicide prevention, and identifying and understanding the mentally ill population.

GED- Adult Education Services

Howard Community College, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections, provides educational instruction in the areas of adult basic education, pre-GED and GED for inmates who are interested in improving their basic skills in reading, writing, and math and/or want to prepare for the high school equivalency exam (GED).

The Adult Basic Education Class provides instruction for students who demonstrate a wide range of skill levels. Each student at the time of registration takes the Maryland State Department of Education approved placement and assessment tests which enables the instructor to plan individualized lessons corresponding to the skill levels of each student in the areas of reading, writing, and math. Student progress is monitored through periodic administration of pre- and post-tests. In addition to traditional classroom instruction, a computer technical specialist brings portable laptop computers to the classroom three times a week and assists students with educational software designed to help students reinforce their academic skills. Students also learn basic computer literacy through use of these laptop computers.

If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call (410) 637-4000 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.

Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call (410) 313-5200 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.