Howard County issued a request for proposals [link] and qualifications (RFPQ) for proposals and statements of qualifications to develop, build, operate and maintain the new jail pursuant to a public-private partnership agreement with a selected developer.
- Jan. 21, 2025: RFPQ approved by commissioners
- Read the meeting minutes [link]
- Jan. 27, 2025: RFPQ published
- Feb. 12, 2025: RFPQ submission deadline
- Feb 27 and 28, 2025: Interviews
- Mar. 3, 2025: Award and execution of scoping agreement
- News release: Howard County Commissioners Release Request for Proposals as Preparations for Construction of New County Jail Begin (Jan. 22, 2025) [link]
The Howard County jail was built in 1992 and opened in 1993 as a direct supervision facility with an initial bed capacity of 256. Since then, bed capacity has been increased twice with the addition of 72 beds and then the addition of 36 beds. Today, the jail has a bed capacity of 364.
In January 2025, the jail had an average daily population count of 345. Consequently, the county had to send an average of 52 inmates to out-of-county jails, costing the county an average of $2,080 per day.
The DLZ Feasibility and Needs Assessment
In May 2023, the Howard County Commissioners commissioned a feasibility study and needs assessment for the county jail.
The report concluded that the jail was, in general, in “fair to poor condition,” that many of its components are outdated, in need of replacement or inadequate and that “significantly more” beds are needed.
- Read the DLZ Feasibility Study and Needs Assessment [link]
Howard County Jail and Justice System Timeline
Since 2006, the county has made several changes to the judicial system, including opening a work release center to help reduce recidivism, creating a drug court and mental health court, and creating magistrate court with a dedicated prosecutor and public defender to help expedite the judicial process.
The county has also completed multiple renovation projects at the jail to expand bed capacity and improve inmate conditions.
- View the full timeline [link]
Members of the Howard County Jail Committee include:
- Commissioner Jack Dodd
- Councilor Daryl Maple
- Councilor Brett Sanders
- Councilor Frank Faulkner
- Sheriff Jerry Asher
- Jail Commander Captain Matt Deckard
- County Attorney Alan Wilson
