Harford County Detention Center

Harford County Detention Center basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 410-638-3140

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Harford County Detention Center is a medium-security detention center located at 1030 Rock Spring Rd Bel Air, MD which is operated locally by the Harford County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Harford County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Bel Air Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

The predecessor to the Harford County Detention Center was the jail. The original jail was constructed in 1791, portions of which are still standing. This jail consisted of three floors, each with six double-bunked cells per floor, one cell for females, and one for juveniles. Meals were prepared on-site by the Sheriff’s wife and served on a small metal tray. The old jail served as a pre-sentence holding facility only. During the mid-1960s, the agency had three jailers, who also served as police radio operators. Religious and family visits were the only services offered at the time.

The primary purpose of the Detention Center is to provide care, custody and safety of the prisoners and staff, it also offers a variety of programs to the inmate. These programs provide inmates an opportunity to maintain and improve their physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing upon re-integration into the Harford County community.

The Harford County Detention Center opened in 1973 with a capacity of 100 inmates. The latest expansion was completed in 2012, which added 288 beds to the facility for a total capacity of 762.

Mailing Letters – For security purposes, changes have been made to the Inmate Mail policy at the Harford County Detention Center. These changes will take effect on August 1, 2016. After that date, any correspondence not meeting these requirements will be returned to sender.

1. Incoming personal correspondence must be via commercially produced POSTCARDS which meet the US Postal Service standards for postcard delivery.

   Unacceptable forms of postcards include, but are not limited to, items with labels or stickers; items that are altered, or defaced in any way; items that are watermarked or stained or marked with paint, crayon, or marker; items with biohazards or liquids including perfume, lipstick, or bodily fluid; items depicting material related to any subversive organizations, associations or groups considered to be a security threat group; items depicting illicit or explicit acts. Handmade postcards or Index card will not be accepted.

2. A maximum of 5 photographs will be accepted in an envelope clearly marked “Photos” or “Photographs.”

Photographs must be on photo paper, and may not be Polaroid, plastic pocket cards or identification cards. Photographs may be no larger than 4″ x 6″ and may not depict illicit or explicit sex acts or activity, or any material related to any subversive organizations, associations or groups.

All correspondence must still be addressed to the specific inmate and the Inmate’s first and last name and ID Number must be included. As always, books and publications must come directly from the publisher or distributor. Magazines must be directly from a publisher not a third party. All publications must be new. Used material will be returned. Any mail coming from courts, counsel, or other legal correspondence may be in envelopes and will be open and inspected in the presence of the inmate.

visitation Info

Harford County Detention Center – Visitation

Public visitation shall be conducted for all inmates in the facility visiting area according to the following visiting hours schedule:

SUNDAY

*9:00 am – 11:00 am

Female Inmates & Lower Level Male Inmates

*12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Housing Units E, F, G, H, J, K, W (when W houses male inmates), Medical Isolation Males

WEDNESDAY

*9:00 am – 11:00 am

Female Inmates & Lower Level Male Inmates

*12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Main Level Male Inmates

SATURDAY

*9:00 am – 11:00 am

Female Inmates & Lower Level Male Inmates

*12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Housing Units B, C, S Isolation Males

* Visitors shall not be accepted after 30 minutes before the end of each visiting session (10:30 am for morning visitation; 2:30 pm for the afternoon visitation).

Inmates are only allowed one visit each week. A maximum of two people may visit an inmate at one time.

Cameras, cell phones or other recording devices are not permitted in the visiting area. Violation by any visitor of this regulation will result in banning of the visitor from the facility.

Proper Attire

All visitors to the Harford County Detention Center are required to adhere to the following dress code; The following types of clothing are NOT allowed to be worn:

• Tube tops, tank tops or halter tops, spaghetti straps
• See-through clothing
• Mini-skirts, mini-dresses, short-shorts, short culottes or short skorts
  (These items must be mid-thigh or below)
• Form-fitting clothes such as leotards, spandex and leggings
• Clothes that expose the midriff, side or back
• Tops or dresses that have revealing necklines or excessive splits
• Coats and jackets (If worn, they will be placed in a locker)

Failure to adhere to the above dress code will result in denial of visits.