California's prison system has long been criticized for its high rising prison population. As of 2010, a fifth of California state prisoners are serving a life sentence. This study used in-depth interviews to explore the reintegration experiences of fifteen ex-offenders who served a life sentence in prison. A grounded theory approach to analysis identified themes from the narratives. The findings suggested that although incarceration was a difficult experience, the motivation of these men to make healthy decisions along with the support of their family contributed towards positive outcomes and optimism about transitioning back into society. The findings of this study were found to be consistent with previous research that found transitioning from prison to the community posed a problem for those individuals who did not have needed resources upon release.