The study was on perceived factors of crime rate and correctional facilities congestion in rural communities in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted three objective research questions and hypotheses and the study adopted the ex-post facto research design. There was no sampling technique adopted in the study. Purposive sampling was used to sample the 400 respondents used in the study and the instrument for data collection was a researcherdeveloped questionnaire titled Perceived Factors of Crime Rate and Correctional Facilities Congestion (PFCRCFCQ), which was developed and used for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts and the reliability was established using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient Analysis. The questionnaire items were built on a four-point rating scale for data collection and it was used to elicit relevant information from respondents. The questionnaire was distributed to respondents in the study area. Collected and analysed with simple linear regression analysis. All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that avoiding unnecessary incarceration, promoting, reducing recidivism and fostering community involvement in criminal justice significantly predict correctional facilities' congestion. It was recommended that the criminal justice committee should be compelled to be more effective in utilising their power of jail delivery to at least a minimum of four times per year visit to decongest the prisons. In conclusion, the indicators of alternative sentencing (avoiding unnecessary incarceration, promoting, reducing recidivism and fostering community involvement in criminal justice) significantly predict correctional facilities congestion in Cross River State.