Defendant remorse and criminal appearance significantly influence penalty severity in criminal trials, where remorseful cues are often associated with leniency and criminal appearances with harsher punishments. Alarmingly, a defendant's facial structure, despite their intent, can activate implicit face-type biases shaping perceptions of remorse and criminal tendencies, thereby affecting legal outcomes. Two studies examined how these face-type judgments influence parole decisions and recidivism beliefs as a function of crime severity. Results indicate that perceptions of criminality and remorse vary based on the intensity of facial features present, and these perceptions may influence parole and recidivism beliefs. Additionally, offenders with criminal-looking features can still appear remorseful, though this perception may depend on the type of crime committed and judgment being made (e.g., parole decisions or predictions of reoffending). Overall, these findings highlight how implicit face-type biases can undermine fairness and impartiality within the criminal justice system.
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