Howard Co Jail in Kokomo, IN is a county detention facility operated by the Howard County Sheriff's Office. Most people here are awaiting trial or sentencing - this is not a prison, and most stays are measured in days or months, not years. If someone you care about was just booked here, you have questions. Start with the one that matters most right now.
If you are not certain they are there, the fastest way to confirm is the Howard County inmate search or InmateAid's inmate locator, which searches across Indiana facilities by name.
Booking takes time - sometimes several hours after arrest. If the search comes back empty, wait a few hours and try again before assuming they have been transferred somewhere else. You can also pull their arrest record and booking details to confirm the charges and facility assignment. For the most direct answer, call Howard Co Jail at 765-456-2026.
Most people booked at Howard Co Jail appear before a judge within 24 to 48 hours. At that first appearance the judge sets the bail amount - or denies bail - based on the charges, the person's history, and whether they are considered a flight risk.
If bail is set, your family member can be released by paying the full amount or by using a bail bondsman, who typically charges 10 percent of the total as a non-refundable fee. If bail is denied or the amount is unaffordable, they remain at Howard Co Jail until the case resolves. InmateAid's bail and bond guide walks through every option including what to do if you cannot afford a bondsman.
Right after arrest, your family member goes through intake at Howard Co Jail - identity verification, medical screening, property inventory, and classification. Classification places them in a housing unit based on the charges, prior record, and intake behavior. It is not a punishment. It is how the facility manages a population that ranges from people picked up on minor warrants to individuals facing serious charges.
For the first 24 to 48 hours, phone access and visitation are typically unavailable while booking completes. Once they are assigned to a housing unit, those channels open up. InmateAid's what happens in jail guide covers the full intake process step by step so you know what to expect.
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them. Calls from Howard Co Jail go through Combined Public Communications (CPC) and all calls are recorded except attorney calls. Set up a Combined Public Communications (CPC) account before the first call so the connection goes through without delay.
Phone contact is more important than most people realize going into this. A regular call - even a short one - makes a measurable difference in how someone holds up inside. Do not let the setup friction stop you. Visit InmateAid's jail calls page for step-by-step account setup, current rate information, and tips for keeping funds available.
Visitation hours at Howard Co Jail are set by the facility and can change without much notice. Before making the trip, call 765-456-2026 to confirm current hours, any advance registration requirements, and what you are allowed to bring.
The most common mistake families make is showing up without confirming first - and that results in a wasted trip and a missed visit for your family member. General rules across most Indiana county jails: dress conservatively, avoid colors that resemble inmate uniforms, leave your phone in your car, and bring valid government-issued ID. Children may be permitted with specific requirements depending on the facility. InmateAid's visitation guide has a full checklist you can run through before you go.
The Howard County Jail has established strict guidelines for video visitation to ensure safety, security, and a respectful environment. Visitors must adhere to the following rules and procedures, as privileges can be suspended or terminated for non-compliance. Inmates are held responsible for the actions of their visitors, and violations may impact their ability to receive visits.
General Visitation Guidelines
- Video visitation is a privilege, not a right, and is subject to suspension or termination at any time.
- All visits are recorded and may be monitored.
- Visitors must agree to all rules and regulations before authorization is granted.
- Violations during a visit may result in suspension or termination of visitation privileges. Notifications will be sent through the GTL Visitation Platform.
Visitor Registration
- Visitors must register either at the Howard County Criminal Justice Center KIOSK or via the Howard County website. Accurate and up-to-date information is required.
- Visitors using false names or identification will have their visitation privileges suspended for one year.
Visitation Rules
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Registration and Identification
- Visitors must ensure their registration details match their ID at check-in. Incorrect information will result in denied visits until corrected.
- All visitors must report to the front desk 15 minutes prior to their scheduled visit unless the visit is conducted online.
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Visitor Conduct
- Visitors are prohibited from engaging in rude, vulgar, or lewd behavior, including flashing, inappropriate clothing, or any sexual activities.
- Food and drink are not allowed in the lobby or during visitation.
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Technology Restrictions
- Visitors may not use cell phones, recording devices, or show pictures, letters, or documents during visitation. Violations may result in up to a one-year suspension.
- No screenshots, recordings, or other activities are allowed during online visitation using cell phones.
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Supervision of Minors
- Children must be accompanied by an adult and remain under control during the session. Running or straying from the supervising adult is prohibited.
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Eligibility
- Visitors must not have been incarcerated within the last 90 days.
- Proper lighting is required during visits to ensure clear visibility.
Visitation Limits
- Inmates are allowed two 25-minute visits per week.
- Unlimited internet visits are permitted, with each session limited to 10–25 minutes.
- Visits are limited to one visitor per session, except for two registered adults participating in internet visits or a registered adult with two minors.
Scheduling and Emergencies
- Visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments can be made online via the GTL Visitation Platform.
- Failure to attend a scheduled visit counts as a completed session unless canceled online or verified as an emergency by the Jail Commander or their designee.
Special Conditions
- Visitors wearing face coverings for religious or national beliefs may be required to provide additional identification.
- Visitation hours and policies are subject to modification at the discretion of jail administration based on staffing and security considerations.
Money on the books - also called the commissary or trust account - gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, and postage. It is one of the most practical things you can do and it has a direct effect on their daily comfort.
Howard Co Jail accepts deposits through approved channels that typically include online deposit, phone deposit, or a kiosk at the facility. Use your family member's full legal name and booking number exactly as they appear in the jail's system - any error in the name or number will delay or reject the deposit. InmateAid's send money page lists the specific deposit methods accepted at Howard Co Jail and walks through the process.
A letter or a printed photo costs almost nothing to send and means far more than most people outside appreciate. Howard Co Jail accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 1800 W Markland Ave. Put their full legal name and booking number on every piece of mail.
Standard rules at most Indiana county jails: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Photos should be standard print size with nothing written on the back. Mail that does not meet the facility's standards will be rejected - and the facility may not notify you that it was. Keep it simple.
InmateAid's send mail service lets you write and send directly from your phone or computer. We print on approved stock and mail it for you, so rejection for formatting is not a risk.
Books and magazines must come new, ordered directly from the publisher or through an online retailer - not shipped from your home address. Facilities require this to prevent contraband. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher. Anything shipped from a personal address will be turned away.
County jail procedures, visitation rules, phone rates, inmate search tools, bail processes, and what happens at release all vary by state. Indiana has its own rules and its own agencies, and what applies in one state does not always apply here.
InmateAid's Indiana prison resources hub covers all of it - written specifically for families navigating the Indiana system. Start there when you need answers that go beyond what this facility page covers.
County jail time is hard in a way that is different from anything else. The uncertainty - not knowing how long, not knowing what comes next - wears on everyone. What you can control is the connection. Calls, letters, visits, money on the books. Every one of those things tells your family member that someone out here is paying attention and is not going anywhere.
InmateAid was built for exactly this. Use us.