Search Howard County Jail Roster
The Howard County jail roster tracks all inmates held at the Detention Center in Jessup, Maryland. Howard County does not post its jail roster on the web, so you need to call the facility or use a statewide tool to check who is in custody. The Howard County Department of Corrections runs the detention center and the central booking unit that processes every adult arrest in the county. Staff can give you booking details, bond amounts, charges, and court dates over the phone any time of day. You can also try VINELink or the Maryland Judiciary Case Search to look up jail roster data tied to Howard County.
Howard County Overview
Howard County Detention Center
The Howard County Detention Center sits at 7301 Waterloo Road in Jessup. It opened in 1983 and got a major expansion in 1994. The facility has a maximum capacity of 474 beds with a rated operating level of 398. About 153 staff members work at the site. The detention center holds pre-trial inmates and those serving short sentences. Howard County runs this facility through its Department of Corrections, which also handles central booking for all adult arrests in the county.
The Howard County Department of Corrections website has general info about the facility but does not have a public jail roster you can browse. The screenshot below shows the corrections department page for Howard County.
All adult arrests in Howard County go through the Central Booking Facility first. Staff there use live scan technology for fingerprints and take digital photos. A District Court Commissioner is on site around the clock at 410-313-4740. After booking, inmates move to the main detention center where they wait for bond hearings or trial dates.
| Address | 7301 Waterloo Road, Jessup, MD 20794 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | 410-313-5200 (24 hours) |
| Central Booking | 410-313-5300 |
| Sheriff's Office | 410-313-4150 |
| Commissioner | 410-313-4740 (24 hours) |
Howard County Jail Roster Search Methods
Since Howard County does not post a jail roster online, calling is the fastest way to check on someone. Dial 410-313-5200 at any hour. Staff can tell you if a person is in custody. They can share the full name, aliases, booking number, charges, bond amount, court dates, and housing assignment. You can also ask about mugshots. This is the main way people look up the Howard County jail roster.
The screenshot below shows an inmate search page linked to Howard County resources.
VINELink is another good option. Go to vinelink.com and pick Maryland as the state. Then search by name or ID number. VINELink covers all 24 Maryland counties, so it will show results for Howard County inmates held at state or local facilities. You can also sign up for alerts if you want to know when someone gets released or moved. The phone line for Maryland VINE is 1-866-634-8463.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is a free tool from the court system. It does not show jail roster data directly, but it can tell you if someone has been detained based on case notes. Search by name or case number. Look for terms like "detained" or "in custody" in the results. This works for Howard County cases in the District and Circuit Courts.
For bond hearing results in Howard County, call 410-313-5233 after 2:00 PM on weekdays. Bond hearings happen Monday through Friday, not on holidays. The commissioner line at 410-313-4740 is open all day and night for bail questions.
Howard County Inmate Records Requests
You can ask for jail roster records from the Howard County Department of Corrections under the Maryland Public Information Act. The Administrative Records Section handles all requests. This team also computes release dates and keeps files on past inmates. Send your request to 7301 Waterloo Road, Jessup, MD 20794, or call 410-313-5200 to start the process.
Under Md. General Provisions Code Ann. Section 4-201, you have the right to inspect public records held by government agencies in Maryland. This includes many jail roster records in Howard County. The custodian must respond within 30 days. Copies cost 50 cents per page plus postage. There is no charge if the total is a dollar or less. The first two hours of staff time for searching records are free. After that, Howard County can charge for the time spent gathering your request.
Howard County jail roster records governed by COMAR 12.02.24.07 include physical descriptions, current photos, crime details, sentences, and prior criminal history. Some items like medical records or juvenile files are not available to the public. Under Corr. Serv. Section 11-715, the Howard County detention facility follows state rules on how records are kept and shared.
Note: If your records request is denied, you can contact the Maryland Public Access Ombudsman to mediate before filing a formal complaint.
Visiting Inmates in Howard County
Howard County uses IC Solutions for video visits. Off-site video visits cost $7.50 each. On-site video visits are free and you get two per week. Go to icsolutions.com to set up remote visits.
The visitor information page on the Howard County website spells out the rules you need to follow. The screenshot below shows that page.
Each visit allows a max of two adults and two children. You need a valid government photo ID that is not expired. Dress code matters too. Shoulders must be covered and revealing clothes are not allowed. Visits run for 30 minutes. Some housing units only allow video visits. Units E, F1, F2, East Wing, and H1 switched to video-only in April 2018. Units W1, W4, W6, and WF4 followed in May 2018. If the person you want to see is in one of those units, you will have to use the video system instead of going in person at the Howard County facility.
Sending Money to Howard County Inmates
You can put money on an inmate's account in Howard County three ways. The lobby kiosk takes cash in $5, $10, $20, $50, or $100 bills plus MasterCard and Visa. You can also call 1-866-345-1884 with a credit card. Online deposits go through Access Corrections. Fees range from $2.95 to $9.95 depending on the amount and method. Phone deposits cost a bit more than web or kiosk deposits.
For deposits between $20 and $99.99, the fee is $5.95 online or at the kiosk, but $8.95 by phone. Larger deposits of $100 to $199.99 cost $7.95 online and $8.95 by phone. The max single deposit is $300 and the fee for that range is $9.95 online or $10.95 by phone. These funds go into the inmate's commissary account at the Howard County Detention Center.
Cities in Howard County
Howard County includes several communities. All arrests in Howard County go through the central booking unit and the detention center in Jessup. The cities below have their own pages with more details on how to find jail roster info for each area.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Howard County. If you are not sure which county jail holds the person you are looking for, check the address where the arrest took place.