Samu Czabán at Psyche:
Among the many consequential decisions judges have to make, they weigh in on parole requests: determining whether an individual will regain freedom or remain confined to a prison cell. Several factors normally play a role in these rulings, such as the risk of recidivism, the severity of the crime and the inmate’s behaviour. However, when a group of researchers analysed the decision-making patterns of Israeli judges, more than a decade ago, they noticed something peculiar. The judges released many people at the beginning of the day. But as the hours passed, they became stricter. As lunchtime approached – and the judges presumably grew hungrier – they barely granted anyone parole. Then, after a meal, they became more lenient again. While the conclusions of this ‘hungry judge’ study have since been critiqued, it prompted further consideration of the extent to which justice might depend on extraneous factors such as food breaks.
More here.
Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.