What determines whether a person is reliable in court? Who decides whether a witness statement is sincere or learnt? On what basis is the defendant's psychological profile assessed? And are these decisions really only made by persons?
From 5 to 8 August 2025, Vilnius will become the epicenter of European Legal Psychology (EAPL 2025), the annual conference of the European Association for Psychology and Law (EAPL). Returning to Lithuania after twenty years, this international event will bring together leading academics, researchers, practitioners, human rights advocates, policy makers, technology developers and journalists from around the world.
The main organiser of the conference in Lithuania is Mykolas Romeris University (MRU). The event is organised by Prof. Rita Žukauskienė and Dr Aleksandr Segal from the Institute of Psychology and the Research Laboratory of Applied Psychology at MRU, who are well-known researchers in the field of legal psychology in Lithuania and promoters of international cooperation in this area.
The theme of this year's conference is technological progress and its application to legal psychology. This includes digital questioning tools, algorithms for risk modelling, artificial intelligence and platforms for behavioural analysis, which are already influencing decisions that can determine a person's freedom, dignity or even life. The conference will focus on the question of how algorithms influence the assessment of a person's dangerousness, how children or other vulnerable groups are protected in court proceedings, how artificial intelligence can help or mislead in the assessment of human behaviour and what ethical limits the use of technology has.
The programme consists of plenary sessions, thematic symposia, interactive debates and special pre-conference workshops for young researchers and practitioners. It will not only be a space for knowledge exchange, but also for real collaboration - a place where science and practice, technology and values meet.
This conference is not only important for the academic community. It is also relevant for journalists seeking reliable sources on the development of justice systems. It is important for policy makers developing rules in a rapidly changing social and technological environment. It is important for non-governmental organisations working for human rights. It is a space to understand that decisions about the fate of people should not be based on guesswork or pressure, but on sound, clear and ethically applied scientific principles.
Vilnius is the ideal place for such a dialogue. In 2025, the city will be named European Green Capital - a place that combines history, openness, innovation and responsibility.
EAPL 2025 is a space where science and responsibility, technology and human rights, facts and ethics meet. It is not only about the exchange of research results, but also about what a humane, science-based justice system should look like.
Useful information for participants and partners:
Event title: EAPL Annual Conference 2025
Date: 5-8 August 2025
Place: TAŠKIUS Science & Art School, Aušros Vartų str. 7A, 01304, Vilnius
Subject: Technological progress and application in legal psychology
Organisers:
- Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), Institute of Psychology and Applied Psychology Research Laboratory
- European Association for the Psychology of Law (EAPL)
- Conference Chairs: Prof. Rita Žukauskienė and Dr. Aleksandr Segal
Official conference website: https://eapl2025.com
Programme overview: https://eapl2025.com/outline
Media and partner contacts:
Email: info@eapl2025.com
Phone number: +37069438096