UK Study Reveals Accent Bias in Criminal Justice System
2025-01-17
A University of Cambridge study reveals a persistent bias in the UK criminal justice system, linking working-class accents with criminal behavior. Participants rated recordings of various regional accents, with Liverpool and Bradford accents perceived as more likely to be associated with crime. This bias, the researchers argue, can impact all stages of the justice system, from arrest to sentencing, and even affect witness credibility. The study highlights the need for improved voice identification procedures to mitigate accent-based prejudice and ensure fairer outcomes.