Researcher(s)
- Harmony Smith, Psychology, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Aaron Kupchik, Criminology, University of Delaware
Abstract
The legal system relies heavily on decisions made under conditions of uncertainty and power imbalance. Although plea bargaining resolves the majority of criminal cases, less is known about how individuals experiencing these processes interpret legal pressure and its influence on their sense of identity and trust. Existing literature has examined plea decision-making and legal outcomes, but fewer studies have incorporated affected individuals in conversations centering how their justice-system involvement psychologically interpret these experiences and incorporate them into their self-perceptions. The present study examines how formerly incarcerated men describe experiences of legal pressure and how these experiences shape perceptions of guilt, fairness, trust, and identity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with formerly incarcerated adult men who had prior experiences with the criminal legal system. Interviews examined plea negotiations, legal representation, institutional interactions, and perceptions of justice. A qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns of participants’ narratives. Participants frequently described legal decisions as shaped by limited choices, institutional pressure, and perceived power imbalances with common themes including reduced trust in legal actors, uncertainty about legal processes, and the development of survival-based strategies to navigate the system. Participants often distinguished between legal guilt and personal identity, suggesting that incarceration influenced, but did not fully define, their sense of self. These findings highlight the importance of considering justice-involved individuals’ perspectives when evaluating procedural fairness and legal legitimacy. Understanding how individuals internalize legal experiences may inform efforts to improve trust and reduce harmful psychological consequences of incarceration.