Cultural Competence In Criminal Justice
who may perceive the justice system and legal actors as “enemies” due to high degree of power imbalance. This has potential to increase the trust between the client and the lawyer which is the fundament of the fiduciary relationships.
Acquiring cultural competence goes beyond one-hour training sessions, it requires constant introspection, professional and self-development, and acquisition of new skills. The capability of acting in a culturally competent manner includes the elements of “awareness; competency around the particular tasks, skills, knowledge, and attitudes to practice; and the ability to progress learning in new situations.” In addition, Allison Dundes Renteln argues that:
“The desire for greater cross-cultural understanding is admirable but is unlikely to be sufficient to resolve many culture conflicts so long as this training is elective and the course is a matter of hours. To become a police officer, lawyer, or judge should be contingent upon significant knowledge of other folkways. This could be accomplished by required courses, homestays in other countries, or cultural questions on exams like the bar examination… …show more content…
Moreover, lawyers must be aware that their own cultural background may influence the process and activate cultural triggers that include, but are not limited to racial, linguistic, cultural customs, and other cultural triggers. By practicing reflective thinking through introspection, lawyer is able to reduce his/her own implicit biases. Implicit biases are deeply held attitudes and stereotypes (e.g., racial, gender, etc.) that are formed as a result of our day to day experiences. These implicit biases play a crucial role in how a lawyer handles the case because these biases directly and involuntarily affect our thoughts, decision making, behaviour, and ultimately lead us to act in a specific
Acquiring cultural competence goes beyond one-hour training sessions, it requires constant introspection, professional and self-development, and acquisition of new skills. The capability of acting in a culturally competent manner includes the elements of “awareness; competency around the particular tasks, skills, knowledge, and attitudes to practice; and the ability to progress learning in new situations.” In addition, Allison Dundes Renteln argues that:
“The desire for greater cross-cultural understanding is admirable but is unlikely to be sufficient to resolve many culture conflicts so long as this training is elective and the course is a matter of hours. To become a police officer, lawyer, or judge should be contingent upon significant knowledge of other folkways. This could be accomplished by required courses, homestays in other countries, or cultural questions on exams like the bar examination… …show more content…
Moreover, lawyers must be aware that their own cultural background may influence the process and activate cultural triggers that include, but are not limited to racial, linguistic, cultural customs, and other cultural triggers. By practicing reflective thinking through introspection, lawyer is able to reduce his/her own implicit biases. Implicit biases are deeply held attitudes and stereotypes (e.g., racial, gender, etc.) that are formed as a result of our day to day experiences. These implicit biases play a crucial role in how a lawyer handles the case because these biases directly and involuntarily affect our thoughts, decision making, behaviour, and ultimately lead us to act in a specific