The Illusion of Cultural Competence in Criminal Justice

Testimonies form the backbone of criminal investigations. When witnesses come from diverse cultural backgrounds, things can get complicated. Cultural differences in how people describe their experiences, along with the hurdles of cross-cultural communication, can significantly influence the direction and outcome of a case. 

In this inaugural lecture, the author reflects on her journey from studying eyewitness memory in cross-cultural contexts and seeking to improve cultural competence, to the realisation that this goal itself may be misguided. Drawing on her own infinite and intersecting identities, she demonstrates that knowing someone’s cultural background cannot by itself lead to genuine understanding. In fact, the pursuit of cultural competence can foster a false sense of confidence, reinforce stereotypes, obscure power dynamics, and shift attention away from meaningful self-reflection towards the ‘other’. 

In her future research, the author plans to shift the focus from eyewitnesses to more powerful players in the justice system, including police officers, expert witnesses, and judges. She hopes to uncover practical approaches for fostering cultural humility among those who hold power in the criminal justice system. 

Annelies Vredeveldt is a Professor of Legal Psychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She studies memory and cognition in legal contexts, focusing on eyewitness testimony, identification procedures, facial composites, police reporting, expert witness assessments, and the link between consistency and deception.