Researchers systematically varied the contents of prisoners' (fictitious) parole files provided to participants. When the prisoners' crimes were consistent with participants' stereotypes, they were harsher in their parole decisions. Practically speaking, results of this study support the policy of

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The study showed that participants were more likely to make harsher parole decisions when the prisoner's crime was consistent with their stereotypes. Removing information about race or ethnicity from parole files can help eliminate any potential biases based on stereotypes related to those factors, leading to fairer decisions. Allowing prisoners to speak on their own behalf and educating members of parole boards about prejudice can also help promote fair decision making, but they may not necessarily address the specific issue of stereotype-based bias. Only allowing people of the prisoner's same race on the parole board can also lead to biased decision making, as people of the same race may still hold stereotypes and biases towards certain types of crimes or individuals.

Researchers Systematically Varied the Contents of Prisoners' (Fictitious) Parole Files