Howard County Breaks Ground on $132 Million Jail Replacement

The new Howard County Jail and Sheriff’s Office in Kokomo, Ind., will include 640 beds, healthcare spaces and a 911 dispatch center. | Photo Credit: Studio View Architecture

• Howard County, Ind., has broken ground on a $132 million jail, with opening expected in late 2028.
• The approximately 172,000-square-foot project includes 640 rated beds, healthcare spaces and a 911 dispatch center.
• Garmong Construction is the construction manager and developer; Studio View Architecture designed the project.

KOKOMO, Ind. — Officials in Howard County, Ind., held a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 1 for a $132 million replacement jail and sheriff’s office. The project is required under a federal settlement addressing conditions at the existing jail, according to Howard County.

The approximately 172,000-square-foot complex is expected to open in late 2028. Plans include 640 rated beds, two general housing pods, intake and booking areas, medical and mental health spaces, and a 911 dispatch center, according to Inside INdiana Business.

Garmong Construction is the construction manager and developer, and Studio View Architecture designed the project. Howard County’s project updates show the county hired Garmong in March 2025 following a competitive review of three proposals. The procurement called for a build-operate-transfer contract covering design, financing and construction.

The replacement follows years of efforts to address crowding and operational limitations at the county’s existing facility. Howard County reports that the jail opened in 1993 with 256 beds and was later expanded to 364. Its average daily population reached 466 in 2022 and stood at 374 in 2024.

A county-commissioned assessment found the jail generally in “fair to poor condition,” according to an article from Inside INdiana Business. The county’s summary of a study by DLZ Architects also identified outdated or inadequate components and a need for additional beds.

County officials also examined whether renovating the existing building could meet their needs. At an April State of the County event, County Attorney Alan Wilson said the jail’s layout presented significant obstacles and that renovation would cost nearly as much as a new facility, according to Kokomo Tribune reporting. Sheriff Jerry Asher also cited aging plumbing and electrical systems.

According to Howard County’s project updates, the county purchased the land for the new facility for $2.2 million. Kokomo agreed to contribute approximately $6.7 million in local income tax revenue. Public safety income tax revenue will support annual debt service on construction bonds.

Completion of the project is expected in late 2028.

This article is based on reporting by Inside INdiana Business and Kokomo Tribune published Oct. 2, 2026, and reporting from Kokomo Tribune published April 17, 2026, with supplemental project information from Howard County and Studio View Architecture.