Summary:
Far beyond your local tattoo parlor, and the ordinary tattoo experience, is the ancient, yet little known art of prison tattooing. Prison tattoos serve many functions. They can be an expression of self, a form of communication, a manifestation of a gang affiliation, or a clue to crimes of the past. For those behind bars, a night on the town followed by a tattoo among friends is simply not an option. They must turn to the artists on the inside. Forbidden in prisons, tattooing must be done in secret with makeshift equipment. When the fear of being discovered and punished looms overhead, inmates get creative in producing their own needles, guns, and inks. In fact, tattooing is such a widespread activity in some prisons, that a few are taking a unique approach to controlling it.

Details or Sample:
The Equipment: As you might imagine, proper state of the art inking supplies and equipment are a scarce, nearly non-existent, luxury in prison. However, this inconvenience has not squelched the livelihood of prison tattooing. Prison inmates have been known to fabricate makeshift tattoo guns and needles from paperclips, electric shavers, hair dryer motors, and guitar strings. Like tattoo guns, real tattoo ink is a rarity in prison. Even just a thimble full of real ink is highly valued. Because of the rarity of the real stuff, making homemade ink is common behind bars. Tattoo ink can be made from common, often dangerous, substances such as the ashes of burned paper, metal shavings, toothpaste, shampoo, or medication. Bright red ink is sometimes derived from cough syrup.

The Designs: Some prison tattoo designs can signify crimes committed or gang affiliations. Russian prison tattoos are historically known for being a language all their own, and are designed to prevent outsiders from understanding communication between prisoners. For example, a life without the possibility of parole sentence is sometimes signified by barbed wire across the forehead, a series of skulls can be an indication of murders committed, and substance abuse is represented by spider webs. Imagery of flying birds is an expression that the inmate feels he should be free. Sometimes, tattoos are applied to unwilling recipients. For example, an inmate who has betrayed his gang or group of friends may be forced to receive a tattoo in the shape of a diamond. This is an indication to the rest of the population that this person has betrayed them in some way. Humiliating and embarrassing sexual depictions are often used as belittling punishments to those who have offended the wrong people. A heart can be used to indicate that an inmate is gay. Other symbolic items include rings around the fingers and toes, tear drops and arm bands.

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Written by: Traci Latoz
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