In jail, there is practice of making and displaying tattoos. Through these tattoos, the inmates may convey inmates’ extent of crime, gang membership, personal attributes, disregard for authority, rebellion, and hidden meanings for origin or the criminal deeds. Usually, these tattoos are made with rough equipment such as ballpoint pens, staples, Styrofoam, molten rubber, paper clips, rudimentary needles, and other similar paraphernalia. There are many prison tattoo designs. One of them is a three leaf clover tattoo. By the way, what is the meaning of a three leaf clover tattoo in jail?
The Meaning of Three Leaf Clover Tattoo in Jail
In American jails, the three leaf clover tattoos are usually worn by Aryan Brotherhood members. These tattoos describe their neo-Nazi ideology combined with their own idea of white supremacy. However, in Irish jails, these three leaf clover tattoos simply stand for the trio of hope, faith, and love.
As we said before, the three leaf clover tattoo is typically worn by Aryan Brotherhood members. They are known as AB, Alice Baker, and The Brand. For your information, the Aryan Brotherhood is a white supremacist prison gang in the San Quentin prison, California, which is originated in 1967. This Aryan Brotherhood gang formed as a protection against the attacks of Mexican and Black inmates. According to research, the gang comprises less than 0.1% of the prison population. However, they are responsible for 30% of murders in the federal system.
We get information that the three leaf clover or shamrock is an iconic symbol of Irish heritage and culture. It appears on the flag of Erin Go Bragh that was used by St. Patrick as a symbol of Irish identity. Also, it can be found on the uniforms of Irish sports teams. Without it, any Saint Patrick’s Day event anywhere is incomplete. Although the use of the three leaf clover or shamrock as Ireland’s national symbol dates back thousands of years, but there is a confusion about what constitutes the traditional shamrock. Apparently, a three leaf clover is often mistaken for a four-leaf clover.
Prison Tattooing Process
In the United States, prison tattooing is illegal. Thus, the inmates do not have the proper equipment for the practice. Usually, the inmates create tattoos from their belongings and found materials.
The equipment of prison tattooing has been assembled from materials such as:
- Mechanical pencils
- Magnets
- Radio transistors
- Staples
- Paper clips
- Guitar strings
Aside from the equipment of prison tattooing, the ink used also needs to be improvised. It can be from the ink taken from:
- Pens
- Melted plastic
- Melted Styrofoam
- Soot mixed with shampoo
Generally, tattoos in jails or prisons are not applied free of charge. Usually, they are done in exchange for food, cigarettes, phone time, stamps, or canteen items.
Other Prison Tattoo Designs
Prison tattoo designs tell stories of the prisoners. Surely, there are many prison tattoo designs.
Here are some other prison tattoo designs:
1. Teardrop Tattoos
Teardrop tattoos are portrayed as a small drop of tear that appears to be falling from the eye. The meaning of this tattoo varies from one place to another. Based on the research, Teardrop tattoo is one of the most common types of prison tattoos worn by inmates around the world.
2. Prison Face Tattoos
Generally, these prison face tattoos express how hardcore a criminal is. The greater the amount of the tattoos on their face, it means that the more the number of crimes that they have committed.
3. Prison Star Tattoos
For some people, prison star tattoos can indicate hope, ambition and success. While for some others, prison star tattoos can have religious, professional, or nationalist significance. In all cases, prison star tattoos describe a sense of individuality and uniqueness.
4. Black Gang Tattoos
Usually, black gang tattoos are worn by the African-American community members. These black gang tattoos are used as a symbol of unity and integration. Also, black gang tattoos give people of color a strong motivation to fight for their own goals.
5. Scorpion Tattoos
The Scorpion tattoos describe fear and intimidation. Usually, an inmate who wears a Scorpion tattoo considers himself to be as diabolical as the grim reaper. Thus, a scorpion represents his loyalty, power, and strength.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
