Abstract

The objective of this article is to interpret from a qualitative perspective and a phenomenological design the experiences involved in the formation of criminal identity among people who have committed violent crimes repeatedly. The participants were four men held in a high-security prison in northern Chile. The data collection method was the phenomenological interview, while data analysis was conducted using Van Manen’s (2014) thematic analysis strategies. The findings reveal experiences of poverty, survival, hunger, violence, desire for gain, and structural violence, among others, as integral to the criminal trajectory of the participants and the formation of their identity related to crime. The insights of this study represent a valuable resource for designing early interventions, both preventive and for social reintegration. Further qualitative research is required concerning criminal identity, including the incorporation of female populations in such studies to enhance the contribution of this perspective to the understanding of criminal phenomena. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.