However, these adages — and other life advice about behavior in society — are difficult to process for juveniles who were incarcerated at a young age and served long sentences, says J.Z. Bennett, a criminologist at the University of Cincinnati whose research focuses on prison reform.

“Spending decades in prison removes individuals from social structures and sources of informal social control, such as education, employment, marriage and parenting,” he writes in a new study published in the journal Criminology: “Thicker Than Blood: Exploring the Importance of Carceral Bonds for Those Formerly Serving Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences.”

Juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) is a sentence that places a child 17 years old or younger in prison for life without the possibility of parole. The United States is the only nation that hands down such sentences for crimes committed before turning 18.

Bennett’s study draws from data and life-history interviews of JLWOP offenders, or “juvenile lifers,” who were subsequently released after Supreme Court rulings in 2012 and 2016 found that mandatory life sentences for juveniles were unconstitutional.

Since the Supreme Court rulings, more than 2,500 individuals have been resentenced, and more than 1,000 of those have been released, Bennett’s research team found.

The average age of the juvenile lifers interviewed was 53.

According to Bennett, the study’s key findings are:

• Prison friendships matter more than people realize — Children sentenced to life without parole lose contact with family and friends on the outside but form deep, surrogate family bonds in prison. These relationships provide emotional and practical support throughout their incarceration. However, upon release, they face the difficult reality of rebuilding ties with family and society while also grieving the loss of connections that sustained them behind bars.

• Long sentences throw lives out of sync — Serving decades in prison disconnects individuals from the world outside. While their family and peers move forward, they remain in a system that does not prepare them for release. Instead, their strongest relationships are with those they were incarcerated with, leading to an ongoing struggle to bridge the gap between their past in prison and their future in the community.

• Freedom isn’t just about getting out, it’s an emotional rollercoaster — While release from a life sentence is often seen as a moment of triumph, it is also a time of deep emotional upheaval. Many experience loneliness, disorientation and difficulty adjusting to everyday life. Family members often expect them to simply move forward, but without an opportunity to process decades of incarceration, they may feel misunderstood and unsupported.

• Parole rules can make reentry even harder — Many states prohibit individuals with felony records from associating with one another, despite the fact that these peer relationships are often the most valuable source of support. Those who have shared the experience of long-term incarceration understand the unique challenges of reentry in ways that others cannot. Preventing these connections removes a crucial support system and makes reintegration even more difficult.

“This study challenges the assumption that extreme sentences promote rehabilitation. Instead, the findings suggest that decades behind bars disrupt personal development, sever vital relationships and create barriers to successful reintegration,” Bennett says.

“Policymakers should consider alternative approaches that promote accountability,” he adds, “while also supporting rehabilitation and maintaining social connections that are critical for long-term success.”

Bennett is an assistant professor in UC’s School of Criminal Justice, in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. In addition to teaching corrections courses, he leads UC’s Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, where UC students travel to corrections facilities to discuss criminal justice topics such as sentencing, parole, life after prison and recidivism with incarcerated individuals in a classroom setting. Bennett is an editor of a new book, “Black Freedom Struggle in Urban Appalachia,” available on Amazon. 

Featured image at top: UC Marketing + Brand/Andrew Higley. 

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