Howard Co Detention in Jessup, MD 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 Maryland 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 Detention at 410-313-5200.
Most people booked at Howard Co Detention 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 Detention 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 Detention - 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 Detention go through Inmate Calling Solutions (ICSolutions) and all calls are recorded except attorney calls. Set up a Inmate Calling Solutions (ICSolutions) 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 Detention are set by the facility and can change without much notice. Before making the trip, call 410-313-5200 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 Maryland 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 Detention Center offers both in-person and video visitation, with strict guidelines in place to maintain security and order. Each incarcerated individual is permitted one 30-minute visit per week, with any extensions requiring approval from designated officials. Visitors must register at least 30 minutes before the end of each visitation session. New inmates are not eligible for visits while on receiving status, and no general population visits are allowed during segregation visiting hours. Inmates housed in segregation are responsible for informing their approved visitors of their visitation status and hours. Legal and professional visits are not subject to unreasonable restrictions.
For inmates housed in specific units (E Unit, F1, F2, East Wing, H1, W1, W4, W6, and WF4), face-to-face visitation has been replaced by video visitation unless otherwise approved by the Director or a designee. Visitors must register and schedule video visits through www.icsolutions.com. Inmates in these units may receive two on-site video visits per week and one off-site video visit per day. Off-site visits can be conducted using Windows or Android devices with an internet connection, but Apple and iOS products are currently unsupported. Off-site visits cost $7.50 per session, with fees paid by the visitor. The Department of Corrections does not receive any commissions for video visitation services. Questions or concerns can be directed to IC Solutions Video Visitation Support at (888) 506-8407.
Visitors must adhere to several rules while at the facility. They must present valid, unexpired photo identification and provide a current address during registration. Each visit is limited to two adults and two children, with minors required to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian unless special approval is obtained. Visitors are only allowed to visit one inmate per session and must comply with all facility policies, including prohibitions on electronic devices, food, beverages, coats, and bags in the visiting area. Free lockers are available for storing personal items.
Proper attire is mandatory, with strict guidelines on acceptable clothing. Visitors must wear fully covering tops with sleeves, and skirts or dresses must meet appropriate length requirements. See-through, excessively low-cut, or revealing attire is prohibited, as well as clothing with offensive statements or graphics. Headgear and sunglasses are not allowed inside the facility.
Failure to comply with these policies may result in the termination of a visit and potential denial of future visitation privileges. The Howard County Detention Center emphasizes the importance of maintaining decorum and safety during all visitations.
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 Detention 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 Detention 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 Detention accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 7301 Waterloo Rd. Put their full legal name and booking number on every piece of mail.
Standard rules at most Maryland 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. Maryland has its own rules and its own agencies, and what applies in one state does not always apply here.
InmateAid's Maryland prison resources hub covers all of it - written specifically for families navigating the Maryland 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.