Prison tattooing is the practice of creating and displaying tattoos in a prison setting. They are often used to represent gang membership, prison status, family ties, spiritual beliefs, and are often used as a form of code and have hidden meanings. Tattoos are prohibited in most prisons and are therefore done in secret, with makeshift tattoo equipment. Within the sprawling prison system, both inmates and their guards take tattoos seriously. Tattoos obtained while locked up in prison have a special meaning both for the prisoners themselves and for those on the street.
Methods of tattooing in prison
There are two standard types of prison tattoo guns, the rotary and the relay. The relay pistol is much better than the revolving pistol and is now more widely used. An inmate breaks his most prized possession, a radio, and removes the transistor. The thin copper wire is then removed and wrapped around a screw that provides an automatic relay when turned on. The inmate must then somehow acquire the bristles of a wire brush from the keeper and sharpen them to provide the needle. The barrel is made from a quality mechanical pencil and the truss rod is made with a flexible vane band and a dime-sized magnet. The tattoo gun is then powered by the transistor from another radio. So owning one of these tattoo “guns” is quite expensive, and in prison it can be hard to come up with “money”.
Obviously, without this equipment, the old method of picking and pushing with some kind of pin also works.
Prison Tattoo Ink Recipe
Get a metal container, a soda can cut in half is best, and put baby oil and cotton wool in the can. You will then need a flat piece of metal that can be placed over the opening of the can, without covering it. Burn the baby oil and cotton allowing the smoke to hit the metal sheet and blacken it as dark as possible. You will then scrape off all the black powder and repeat. You want to use a credit card or something similar to do this, as razor blades and other metal scrapers can leave shards in the dust. Put your tattoo powder in a small container, one capful of toothpaste is what I recommend, and fill the cap halfway. Then add a couple of drops of clear, odorless shampoo. Stir well. Your full ink should be the consistency of ballpoint ink, or maybe a bit thicker. To thin the ink, add shampoo, and to thicken it, add more powder.
Some inmates will simply use ink from a ballpoint pen. There are several methods for making an ink recipe, and probably all of them have been used at one time or another.
Due to the lack of proper equipment and sterile prison environments, prison tattooing poses health risks such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. However, the prisoners are ominously aware of this and take every possible precaution given the conditions in which they operate.
Many inmates in prison who do tattoos are very talented artists. Having quality prison tattooing skills is a very lucrative skill to possess. Experienced prison tattoo artists have a much better chance of making “money” than, say, the inmate who is trying to sell drugs behind the scenes. They also earn the admirable respect of other prisoners, as well as the prison officials themselves. Unlike other mind-blowing activities like gossip or gang-related encouragement, the tattoo artist occupies his mind with skin and art.
Some North American Prison Tattoo Meanings
Three points arranged as a triangle – this design is most commonly found between the prisoner’s forefinger and thumb. The design means “mi vida loca”, which means “my crazy life”.
teardrop tattoo – this design is worn by the eye. Indicates that the user has killed someone or that the person had a friend killed in prison.
Clover – this design is worn on any part of the body and is often found on those belonging to the Aryan Brotherhood. In this case, the shamrock often includes the number 12 as well, with the 1 representing “A” and the 2 representing “B.”
ace of spades – Worn anywhere on the body, this design is mostly worn by those who belong to Aco Town gang or Asian Boyz. The A, which is often placed in the middle of the spade, symbolizes the Asiatic, while the spade symbolizes theft.
the number 13 – This tattoo indicates belonging to the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.
the number 14 – this tattoo indicates membership with Nuestra Familia, which is a prison gang. This gang is affiliated with the Norteños, a street gang.
area codes – Many gang members use their neighborhood area code as a tattoo, although this may become outdated as area codes change.
clock without hands – most commonly placed on the upper arm, this tattoo symbolizes “making time”.
spiderweb – Usually found on the elbow, this tattoo is used by white supremacists to show that they have seriously injured or killed one of their “opponents.” The design is also commonly found on people who have been in prison.
Clock faces without hands – Making time
tombstones with numbers – the years they were inside
tombstones with numbers and rip – mourning the death of a friend
crying woman face – have someone outside waiting
SWP – ultimate white power
100% pure – pure white or anglo
Cell window with sun or bird showing – waiting to go out
Other countries like Russia, Australia, France, UK, China and others have prisons with inmates who wear tattoos with significant meanings. In fact, Russia and its former republics have a very elaborate array of tattoo meanings.
A very important point that inmates consider when getting tattooed is getting caught. If an inmate is caught getting a tattoo, he is subject to 15 days of solitary confinement. Being suspected of getting a tattoo, as perhaps indicated by reddening of the skin where a new tattoo has been inked, can still have repercussions, such as being charged. But hey, if you’re doing life without the possibility of parole, does this really worry you that much?
The concept of prison tattoos is not modern. There is evidence to suggest that prisoners were tattooed as early as Egyptian times. As with many of the tattoos worn by prisoners today, these tattoos also held significant meaning. For example, tattoos of kings or pyramids were worn by those who were very dangerous, such as assassins, main bosses, and masterminds.