Reentry Reframed

John Zollicoffer, a U.S. Veteran and former police officer, lived a life of turmoil and crime stemming from his addiction to crack. His parents originally hoped the military would help them to escape the deep south, Jim Crow era. Although he had good role models, early trauma brought him to a life of “madness” in his own words.  John walks us through his story of being lost but never losing hope. As a lifelong criminal incarcerated for a cumulative of more than 20 years in 27 different jails and prisons, Zollicoffer coins himself as “America's Dumbest Criminal-the laughingstock of CCA” for his last robbery involving his hand in his pocket, finger outstretched like a gun barrel.  

The humor of his story kept him sane and gave him clarity of the life he no longer wanted to live. Releasing in his early 60's, Zollicoffer began a new life. He has continued to persevere and now lives a life of faith and redemption. As an author of his own memoir he hopes to publish one day, he strives to inspire others, and ultimately steer them away from this life of incarceration.

Zollicoffer refers to his past life as, “The body of a lunatic… Someone who was lost in the rush of a cocaine hit.”

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Social work is one of the most important career paths, especially in the world of reentry. As corrections and reentry services move forward, criminal justice and social work backgrounds have intersected and overlapped to better serve this population. To build rapport with individuals and guide them through one of the most important transitions in life is something Kendra Howard has found to be incredibly rewarding. Drawing inspiration from her mother’s legacy, Howard shares how social work “chose” her. 

While Howard’s time in Kansas was a short trip around the sun, her impact was huge! Howard provides insight on the impactful work case managers do, the mindset that goes into social work, and how she was able to leave an imprint on those she served through 'Kendra's Kreative Space.’ We can only imagine the people you will help with your servant heart in your career, Mrs. Howard. We wish you well!

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By the age of 17, Gordon Smith struggled with substance use disorder and undiagnosed mental health concerns. Stemming from his addiction, the decisions he made led him to serve nearly a decade in prison. Taking us through his journey of recovery and reentry, he is now pursuing his dreams and helping reduce recidivism from the other side of the bars. Smith describes how key mentors, counseling, and his mindset shift began to open up opportunities he never could have imagined. 

This episode is sponsored by Mirror, Inc. 

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The process of reentering society after incarceration is shrouded in mystery. In this episode, Melissa Goodman, Vice President of Correctional Services, provides insight on how a federal halfway house (Residential Reentry Center) operates. Goodman describes the services provided while also bringing attention to the importance of our community coming together to support justice-involved individuals. By providing a glimpse into some of the barriers those returning from jail and/or prison may face upon their release, our hope is to inform and advocate for better solutions. 

This podcast is brought to you by Mirror, Inc.

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