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The role of emotion in the context of virtual reality learning environments (VRLEs) has lately received increased attention, though there is a gap in the research on VRLEs in criminal justice. The current study examines the impact of a virtual reality experience that focuses on mental illness occurring in those within the criminal justice system. A qualitative methodology was employed to examine student responses from 242 students in five criminal justice classes taught in two states between 2019 and 2020. Three themes emerged from the students' responses, including personal connections, empathy for others, and emotional responses to situational factors. Students experienced considerable presence and immersion during the virtual reality experience, and this generated emotional responses in them to the material. While the use of virtual reality in the pedagogy of social science is still emerging, the current study indicates that student can be provided a high degree of control and value in learning from the experience while simultaneously minimizing student exposure to risk.

Experiential learning is an important component of a criminal justice education. To date, the use of virtual technologies as a form of experiential learning has not been tested. To address this gap, a virtual tour detailing mental illness occurring in prison was provided to undergraduate students in five criminal justice courses taught in two U.S. states between 2019-2020. The virtual reality tenets of presence and immersion demonstrated efficacy in criminal justice, particularly because virtual forms of experiential learning can maximize educational outcomes while minimizing risk for students, instructors, and the institution.