This paper investigated the correlates of coping with the challenges of incarceration among Nigerian prison inmates. The study was carried out in Port Harcourt Prison, Rivers State, Nigeria. The population of the study consisted of 2,997 inmates, of Port Harcourt Prison while the sample was 250 inmates who were composed through stratified random sampling technique from the population. Relevant data for testing the five null hypotheses formulated for the study were gathered through indirect administration of copies of “Correlates of Coping with Challenges of Incarceration Questionnaire (CCCIQ)” on the sample. The questionnaire was developed by the researchers’. Its reliability co-efficient which was ascertained through the test retest method within an interval of two weeks was 0.78. Statistical analysis was carried out with t-test of independent mean scores and the results show that sex, years of incarceration, educational level, nature of incarceration and marital status have significant influence on coping with the challenges of incarceration among prison inmates. These results were discussed and some recommendations also made. One of the recommendations is that programmes and policies that will increase the ability of prison inmates to cope with their challenges should be put in place by the government and concerned non-governmental organizations.
Keywords: Challenges, Coping, Incarceration, Inmates, Nigerian Prison
