Prejudice affecting judgment and decision-making is called?

• A. Currency
• B. Bias
• C. Local Policies
• D. Opinion

Answer: (B)

Bias is prejudice that colors how we judge and decide, often outside our conscious awareness. It means leaning toward or against something in a way that skews how we interpret information, weigh evidence, or treat people. In criminology, bias can creep into risk assessments, evaluations of guilt, or interpretations of behavior, leading to unfair or inconsistent outcomes. Recognizing and mitigating bias involves using objective criteria, structured decision-making tools, and checks like peer review or standardized rubrics to ensure judgments are as fair and accurate as possible. The other terms don’t fit because currency refers to money in circulation, local policies are rules guiding actions in a community, and opinion is a belief or viewpoint that may be biased but does not in itself denote prejudiced judgment.