The illusion of cultural competence in criminal justice

Everyone is warmly invited to attend the public session during which Annelies Vredeveldt, appointed as Professor of Legal Psychology at the Fenna Diemer Lindeboom Chair, hopes to accept this office by giving an inaugural lecture entitled “The Illusion of Cultural Competence in Criminal Justice”. The lecture will take place on Thursday the 13th of November at 15:45 in the Aula of VU Amsterdam. It will be held in English and can also be followed online: www.youtube.com/VUBeadlesOffice

During her lecture, Vredeveldt will explain how culture influences every step of the eyewitness journey: from witnessing a crime, to being interviewed by police, to testifying in court. Her research shows that memory, storytelling, and emotional expression vary across cultures, affecting legal outcomes. Because “culture” is complex and multifaceted, Vredeveldt promotes “cultural humility” over “cultural competence,” encouraging self-awareness, continuous learning, and open dialogue to avoid stereotyping. Her future research will examine cultural bias among police, experts, and judges, aiming for a fairer justice system built on humility.

More information about the inaugural lecture can be found here: https://vu.nl/en/events/2025/inaugural-lecture-prof-dr-a-vredeveldt