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
  • RFPQ award (coming soon)

Site Selection

Howard County purchased approximately 48 acres of land near Dixon Road and Markland Avenue in Kokomo just west of the current county jail as the site for the new jail facility. The property was purchased for $2.2 million following two independent appraisals to ensure the acquisition was at fair market value.

• Read the executed purchase agreement  [link]
• Watch the drone flyover video  [link]

Financing

Update 1 (October 23, 2025): Partnership with City of Kokomo Reduces Tax Impact

Howard County announced an agreement with the city of Kokomo to help reduce the financial burden of building the new county jail.

Under the agreement, the city of Kokomo will contribute its share of revenue generated by a 0.4% increase in the public safety local income tax (LIT) rate to the county for a two-year period, providing approximately $6.7 million to support the project.

This partnership allows the county to reduce the originally anticipated public safety LIT increase from 1.3% to 0.5%, lowering the estimated cost for taxpayers by two-thirds.

Revenue generated by the public safety LIT increase will be used exclusively to fund the annual debt service on bonds issued for construction of the new county jail.

• Read more [link]

Pre-Construction

Update 1 (January 27, 2025): County Releases Request for Proposals

Howard County released a request for proposals (RFP) for a build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract to provide for the design, financing and construction of the new county jail.

• Read the RFP [link]

Update 2 (March 3, 2025): Evaluation Committee Recommends Garmong as Developer

Following a competitive review process, the Howard County Jail Evaluation Committee recommended Garmong as the developer for the new county jail project.

The committee evaluated proposals from three respondents and conducted interviews before scoring each team across key criteria, including technical expertise, project experience, team composition, project approach and timeline.

Based on this evaluation, Garmong was selected for its experience with the build-operate-transfer delivery model, strong project team and proven track record delivering similar public safety facilities.

Update 3 (March 17, 2025): County Hires Garmong as Developer

Howard County hired Garmong Construction as the developer for the new county jail project.

Update 4 (May 11, 2026): County to Host Local Contractor Open House

Howard County will host a local contractor outreach open house on Thursday, May 21, 2026, to share information on how area contractors can participate in the construction of the new Howard County jail.

The open house will provide an overview of the project, have construction documents available for review and outline opportunities for local contractors to get involved. Representatives from Garmong Construction will be available to answer questions from attendees.

“Howard County is being proactive and intentional about ensuring this project creates opportunities for local contractors and workers,” stated Howard County Commissioners Jack Dodd, Brad Bray and Jeff Lipinski. “This is one of the most significant projects the county has undertaken in decades, and we want to make sure local businesses are aware of how they can participate and contribute to its success.”

Meeting details

• Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Location: Basement Conference Room, Howard County Administration Center, 220 N Main Street, Kokomo, IN 46901

Update 5 (June 24, 2026): County to Host Town Hall

The Howard County Board of Commissioners will host a previously announced town hall on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, to provide an update on the construction of the new Howard County jail.

The town hall will include a presentation from the commissioners, a video rendering of the facility and an opportunity for residents to ask questions.

“We have made significant progress on this project, and we want to make sure residents are informed and have the opportunity to ask us questions,” stated Howard County Commissioners Jack Dodd, Brad Bray and Jeff Lipinski. “Throughout this process, we have been committed to doing this the right way — that means being transparent, keeping the taxpayers in mind and making sure every decision we make is in the best interest of Howard County. This town hall is part of that commitment, and we encourage you to attend.”

Details

• Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
• Time: 5 p.m.
• Location: Basement Conference Room, Howard County Administration Center, 220 N Main Street, Kokomo, IN 46901
• Read the Flyer [link]

Overview

The Howard County jail was built in 1992 and opened in 1993 as a direct supervision facility with a capacity of 256 beds. Over time, expansions added 108 beds, bringing the current capacity to 364.

While these additions helped address growing demand, the facility was not designed to meet today’s population levels, operational needs or safety standards. As the jail has aged, both capacity constraints and facility conditions have created increasing challenges for staff and inmates.

New Admissions

Average Daily Population

With the jail operating at or near capacity in recent years, staff are managing a more complex and demanding environment. Higher populations can increase strain on operations, supervision and facility resources, all of which can contribute to a higher likelihood of rule violations and incidents. At the same time, the age of the facility and many of its components create additional safety challenges for both staff and inmates.

The DLZ Feasibility and Needs Assessment

Howard County commissioned an independent feasibility study and needs assessment of the county jail from DLZ in February 2023.

The report concluded that the county 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.

Additionally, the report found that to build a new 1,056 bed jail would cost between $198 million and $210 million. Other options included in the report were less expensive. Expanding the current county jail to 400 beds would cost between $35 million and $40 million, and building a new 880 bed jail would cost between $140 million and $150 million.

· Read the DLZ feasibility study and needs assessment [link]

Renovation and Addition Estimate

Howard County hired Garmong in August 2024 to provide a conceptual budget to renovate the county jail and to add additional beds. Construction costs, not including soft costs, was estimated to be $86 million.

Since 2006, Howard County has implemented a range of strategies to manage the county jail population and reduce pressure on the existing facility.

These efforts include opening a work release center, establishing drug and mental health courts, and creating a magistrate court with a dedicated prosecutor and public defender to help expedite case processing. The county has also completed multiple renovation and expansion projects to increase capacity and improve conditions within the existing county jail.

Despite these sustained efforts, the county jail has continued to face capacity and operational challenges.

As these challenges persisted, legal action followed.

In 2023 and 2024, two class action lawsuits were filed in federal court alleging overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in the county jail. One of the lawsuits was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice, while the second remained ongoing until a settlement agreement was reached through mediation.

The settlement requires the county to construct a new jail facility.

Timeline (2006-2024)

Over nearly two decades, Howard County has implemented a wide range of operational, judicial and facility improvements to manage the county jail population and delay or avoid the need for a new facility.

2024

• Staffing & Operations: Hired additional corrections officers, increasing total staffing to 50
• Staffing & Operations: Increased salaries to improve retention and address staffing shortages
• Staffing & Operations: Moved approximately 80 inmates to other counties to reduce population
• Planning & Evaluation: Hired Garmong and Envoy to evaluate renovation and new construction options
• Planning & Evaluation: Engaged Baker Tilly for financial analysis
• Planning & Evaluation: Conducted assessment with the National Institute for Corrections
• Facility Improvements: Released RFQ to replace the jail’s HVAC system
• Facility & Site: Evaluated property adjacent to the jail for a potential new site
• Facility & Site: Submitted purchase agreement for new jail site
• Facility Improvements: Examined potential facility upgrades, including doors and infrastructure
• Legal & External: ACLU filed additional lawsuit related to jail conditions
• Legal & External: Reached settlement agreement requiring action

2023

• Planning & Evaluation: Hired DLZ to conduct feasibility study and needs assessment
• Planning & Evaluation: Conducted renovation assessment and explored expansion options
• Planning & Evaluation: Designed potential 80-bed temporary housing unit
• Planning & Evaluation: Visited jails in Hendricks and Hancock counties to evaluate newer facilities
• Legal & External: ACLU filed lawsuit related to jail conditions
• Staffing & Operations: Approved local income tax increase to support jail operations

2021

• Facility Improvements: Completed final phase of multi-year roof replacement project
• Facility Improvements: Replaced materials in padded cells
• Facility Improvements: Added storage for inmate property following state inspection recommendations

2020

• Staffing & Operations: Conducted staffing study recommending an increase in corrections officers from 39 to 54

2019

• Facility Improvements: Renovated jail intake area to improve safety for staff and inmates
• Staffing & Operations: Implemented sign-on bonuses to improve staffing and retention
• Judicial & Courts: Opened new magistrate court to expedite case processing

2018

• Judicial & Courts: Opened work release center
• Judicial & Courts: Established mental health court and veterans court

2013

• Facility Improvements: Converted indoor recreation space into dormitory housing, adding 36 beds and increasing total capacity to 364

2011

• Judicial & Courts: Established reentry court

2007

• Judicial & Courts: Established drug court

2006

• Judicial & Courts: Created Superior Court 4

Despite these sustained efforts, the county jail has continued to face capacity and operational challenges due to increasing demand and the limitations of the existing facility.