The good, the bad, the ugly: A qualitative exploration of life‐course posttraumatic growth for individuals formerly sentenced to juvenile life without parole

Abstract

This study explores the profound and often overlooked developmental journeys of individuals sentenced to life without parole as minors. Through in-depth life-history interviews with 30 formerly incarcerated people, we examine how they forged personal growth amid the cumulative trauma of long-term confinement. Our analysis reveals developmental paths aligned with the posttraumatic growth framework, which recognizes how strength and transformation can emerge from profound adversity. Participants shared accounts of how incarceration shaped their identities, values, and sense of purpose, even in the absence of institutional support for meaningful change. Findings challenge readers to reflect on the paradox between the human capacity for change over time and long-term incarceration, particularly as it relates to individuals who entered confinement during a critical period of ongoing psychosocial development.