title: Howard County Department of Corrections
text: # Howard County Department of Corrections
  
  The Howard County Department of Corrections (HCDC) is the corrections agency servicing 3500 arrests within 252.04 square miles (652.8 $km^2)$ of Howard County, Maryland yearly.
  
  ## History
  
  Corrections in Howard County was handled through the county police. The first institution built was the twelve person Ellicott City Jail in 1878. In 1975 a separate division was created by County Executive Edward L. Cochran. Its first director was Gerald H. McClellan.
  
  ## Organization
  
  The department operates the following facilities
  
  ### Central Booking Center
  
      Housed at Waterloo southern Police barracks. Moved to Jessup facility opened 28 March 2005
  
  ### Central Detention Facility
  
      Opened in 1983 with a capacity of 108 inmates. In 1994 the facility was expanded to 361 inmates.
  
  In 2009, the department took over operations of the Howard County Community Service Program, subcontracting to the Serenity Center
  
  