Narrative Resilience Among People Sentenced to Die in U.S. Prisons

• In Event: Prison Working Group: Life and death sentences: Experiences, management, and ethical considerations

Abstract

Nearly two million people are incarcerated in the U.S. Of those people, approximately 200,000 are serving a life sentence and another 2,400 are facing the death penalty – meaning that at least 10 percent of the incarcerated population will likely die in prison. Using a narrative resilience framework – or stories of tenacity through times of adversity – we seek to understand how people who are sentenced to die in prison cope and make meaning of their lives in a harsh and oftentimes dehumanizing environment. During interviews with 61 people who are serving life/death sentences in eight prisons across four U.S. states, individuals shared stories of hope, humanity, and perseverance. When individuals with life sentences were denied programs or services because of their sentence, they found other means to educate and/or develop themselves. When people on death row were housed in isolation, they bonded together and developed innovative ways of communicating. In these instances and more, we witnessed incredible resilience in the face of extreme adversity. This research speaks to the hope that is possible within these historically stark places.

Authors

• Bryce Kushmerick-McCune, Sam Houston State University

• Danielle S Rudes, Sam Houston State University

• Chelsey Narvey, Sam Houston State University

• Elisa Toman, Sam Houston State University

• Wyatt Brown, Sam Houston State University