Every semester, more than 100 students pack into a classroom to hear lectures on criminal minds. Not to watch the hit CBS show, but to unlearn stereotypes that the media has long promoted about crime and people who have been incarcerated.
“I want people to understand how psychology can add to our understanding of criminal behavior. If we want to make our communities safer and reduce victimization rates, while helping people who have harmed others to change and reenter our communities, we need to understand the psychology of criminal behavior,” explains Patricia Coffey (’84), a clinical and forensic psychologist and teaching professor in the Department of Psychology.
Coffey’s affiliation with Madison and the College of Letters & Science began long before she taught her first intro to psychology class. After completing her undergraduate degree in psychology and Latin American studies, Coffey returned to the area for the last year of her PhD program in clinical psychology, where she spent time working at the Mendota Mental Health Institute.
“I had no interest in working in academia when I finished graduate school,” Coffey explains. “I just wanted to get out and do more applied work, which I did for many years, working with both victims and people who had harmed others."
Coffey started a private practice after finishing her PhD program and for about 10 years also worked half time for Mendota Mental Health Institute and Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, specializing in forensic assessments of youth and adults in the legal system.
After leaving her position with the state, one of Coffey’s coworkers mentioned that UW–Madison was looking for someone to teach an introduction to psychology class, kickstarting her career with the Department of Psychology. Then, in 2009, Coffey introduced a special topics course, The Criminal Mind, which developed over time into the current depth course, “The Criminal Mind: Forensic & Psychobiological Perspectives.”
“We came up with the name, the criminal mind, because we thought that would grab attention,” Coffey recalls.
She was right. Almost immediately, the class filled up. Today, Coffey says she still has nearly 100 people on the waiting list for the course each semester.
To debunk the myths and stereotypes portrayed in the media, Coffey grounds her lessons in evidence by examining crime statistics. For example, her class has examined evidence to conclude that certain racial groups are not necessarily more likely to commit crimes; rather, policing and sentencing biases may make them more susceptible to incarceration. The point is to make students think differently about issues by examining the factors that drive them.
Coffey’s students also do a prison reentry simulation through JustDane, an organization based out of Dane County aimed at decreasing recidivism rates for people within the community. Through this opportunity, students not only get to see what it is like to reenter society but also to speak with people who were formerly incarcerated.
“People are often surprised when they meet real people who have this lived experience,” Coffey says. “Maybe they were going through the simulation with someone and didn’t realize they’d been formerly incarcerated, or they’re hearing their stories and can understand the humanity of people who have committed crimes, and the potential for change that occurs when they find support by others who believe they can change."
Coffey hopes her students come away with an increased awareness of the challenges prisoners often face. In class, she emphasizes the idea that if someone reoffends after prison, then someone has also been victimized.
Beyond the lecture hall, Coffey also instructs a senior capstone class, “Issues in Prisoner Reentry.” This is a community-based learning course intended to get students out into the community to address the needs of community partners. The goal is to meet the needs of community partners, learn how to be effective in the community and understand the value of learning from those with lived experience in the legal system. The class reflects on the quote, “Nothing about us, without us, is for us,” and reflects on the value of listening to those with lived experience to identify needs and work in partnership with impacted community members.
The capstone class has worked with a number of community partners, including JustDane, Grow Academy and The Voices of Power, Beacon, UW–Madison Extension Defy Ventures program, and the UniverCity Alliance program. In partnership with the UniverCity Alliance program the class has worked with Racine County, St. Croix County and Monroe County to provide evaluations that meet the needs of the county. This class exemplifies the Wisconsin Idea in action, and students provide valuable support for communities, while gaining valuable skills. Students learn from this real-world experience and leave with the confidence that they have a great deal to contribute and with skills that can extend past passing exams or writing research papers, Coffey says.
Moving forward, Coffey hopes to continue developing her capstone course to acknowledge current events and changes in the justice system. By listening to what nearby communities need, in terms of support and volunteering, Coffey can also decide what organizations her capstone class can work closely alongside to meet those needs.
Coffey also teaches an intro to psychology class at local prisons as part of a Prison Education Initiative, with students from her senior capstone joining to tutor other students in the course.
“That educational work is so inspiring, and it is really meaningful for UW–Madison campus students to work with this highly motivated and engaged group of students. Watching all of these students, regardless of where they are living, connect and learn together is one of the most meaningful experiences of my career," she says.
In all of her classes, Coffey wants her students to come away with a deeper understanding and compassion for people impacted by the justice system. A guiding quote in all of her classes is, “Each person is more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.”
"Understanding does not mean we are excusing harmful behavior, but if we only focus on punishment and dehumanizing those in our legal system, then we will not prevent harm," Coffey says. "The trauma-informed care approach of asking 'What happened to you, rather than what is wrong with you?' can move us forward in our goal of reducing crime, victimization, and helping all members of our community reach their full potential."