本論文以敘事研究方法探討死刑改判無期徒刑女性當事人生命之轉化歷程。研究動機係研究者基於實務觀察與政策的省思所觸發，研究主旨有：一、呈現女性當事人詮釋的死刑改判無期徒刑之生命歷程；二、探討當事人背負污名與道德責任的心理適應與轉化；三、檢視當事人從審判到監禁歷程之生命轉化內涵；四、瞭解無期徒刑當事人面臨假釋的態度與調適情形。 本研究以立意取樣選取四位經歷死刑改判無期徒刑之女性當事人為研究參與者，研究者根據四位參與者之敘說文本勾勒出個別的生命故事，再從四則生命故事中歸納分析生命轉化歷程的主題。研究結果發現：一、生命歷程的重大事件是促成生命轉化的觸媒。二、當事人背負污名的態度從憤恨逃避到安頓心性。三、死刑的邊界處境造就堅韌的生命。四、當事人在不同處境對自由產生不同層次的見解。五、愛與意義是持續轉化的動力。 研究最後分別對當事人、政府當局、未來研究者提出中肯的建議，同時希冀這些曾在生命絕處逢生者個人獨特之生命轉化故事能夠帶給讀者轉變的啟示。 This study adopts narrative research to method to investigate the life transition of four females who were condemned from death penalty to life sentence. The purposes of this study are:（1）to demonstrate the life courses from death penalty to life sentence based on these four females' stories,（2）to explore the psychological adaptation and transition of these females who have borne disrepute and moral condemnation,（3）to explore the contents of transition that was from judge to imprison, and（4）to understand the attitude and adjustment of these inmates when they face parole. According to the text of four female participants' narrative interview, the researcher depicted four individual life stories. From those stories, the researcher generalized and analyzed specific themes of life transition. The findings in this research include:（1）certain significant events in life process become a catalyst of life transition,（2）when these participants who were accused, they were angry and escaped from the reality, eventually they found peace in their minds,（3）the boundary situation brings a stronger life,（4）participants have different views on 'freedom' in different situations, and（5）love and meaning are the power of continuing transition. In the end, the researcher submitted some suggestions to participants, administration authorities and future research. I hope this study could inspire readers by providing these four very specific life transition story, in which the heroines were saved there life at a critical moment.
