Human Capital Development Strategies for inmates in Medium Security Custodial Center, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria

The study was an examination on the assessment of human capital development strategies for inmates in Medium Security Custodial Center, Cross River State, Nigeria. The study precisely focuses on major rehabilitation strategies such as educational support and laundry training as instruments for refining inmates’ skills, productivity, and rehabilitation into society. The research majorly centered on the rehabilitation theory, which highlights the transformation strategy of inmates into creative and law-abiding citizens through skill acquisition and education while in custody and after leaving custody. The research design used in this study was the descriptive survey research, as data were collected from a sample of 400 inmates, using structured questionnaire and interviews. The data were analyzed through the use of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis with the aid of SPSS version 20.0. The findings of the study indicated among others that educational support has a positive and statistically significant relationship with the Nigerian Correctional Service, as records shows that between 2019 to 2026 over 199 inmates were given the opportunity to write the National Examination Council (NECO), while between that same year, about 159 inmates sat and passed the common entrance examination and obtained their First school leaving certificate. the study therefore recommends among others that the Federal and state government, should collaborate with NGOs and institutions like National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to expand educational supports to all correctional centres, as well as investing in educational infrastructure, including classrooms, desks, books, and digital learning tools. Finally, that the Medium Security Custodial Centres should be upgraded to offer postgraduate programmes, support accreditation for WAEC examinations.