The study found that individuals with working-class accents are more likely to be viewed as suspicious or guilty within the UK criminal justice system, demonstrating persistent bias.
Lead researcher Alice Paver emphasizes that accents can unfairly influence perceptions in the justice system, raising concerns about the validity of voice identifications and witness testimonies.
Despite advances in representation for regional accents, harmful stereotypes about working-class speech still lead to significant disadvantages for speakers in the courtroom and beyond.
The biases revealed in the research indicate that accents perceived as 'guiltier' can skew how police and juries judge suspects, further entrenching bias in legal proceedings.
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