We filmed videos of criminal trials using three-dimensional virtual reality (VR) technology, prosecuted by actual prosecutors and defended by actual defense attorneys in a real courtroom. This is the first paper that utilizes VR technology in a non-computer-animated setting. We alter only the race of the defendants, holding all activity in the courtroom constant, to create arguably perfect counterfactuals. Law students and economics students made conviction and sentencing decisions in these trials that differed only in defendants’ race. White evaluators are harsher toward minority defendants in both conviction and sentencing. Minority evaluators are harsher toward minorities in conviction but more lenient in assigning prison terms. This pattern of behavior leads to significant bias against minorities at all stages—conviction, prison sentence, and fine—which is partly a reflection of the numerical majority of the evaluators being white. The same racial bias is observed in the decisions of practicing attorneys.

中文翻译：

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虚拟现实法庭中的种族偏见和群体内偏见

我们使用 3D 虚拟现实 (VR) 技术拍摄刑事审判视频，由真实的检察官起诉，并由真实的辩护律师在真实法庭上进行辩护。这是第一篇在非计算机动画环境中使用 VR 技术的论文。我们只改变被告的种族，保持法庭上的所有活动不变，以创造可以说是完美的反事实。法律系学生和经济学系学生在这些审判中做出的定罪和量刑决定仅在被告的种族上有所不同。白人评估员在定罪和量刑方面对少数族裔被告都更加严厉。少数族裔评估员对少数族裔的定罪更为严厉，但在判刑时更为宽松。这种行为模式导致在各个阶段对少数群体的重大偏见——定罪、监禁、很好——这在一定程度上反映了大多数评估者是白人。在执业律师的决定中也观察到了同样的种族偏见。