Clarity From Madness: A Veteran's Story, John Zollicoffer

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.”