When prisoners are in prison, there are some of them that decide to get a tattoo. Making a tattoo in a prison is called prison tattooing. However, as we know that in prison, there is no proper equipment for getting a tattoo. So, what do prisoners use for making a tattoo, especially for ink?
Ink For Tattoos Used in Prison
Since there is no proper equipment for making a tattoo in a prison, usually prisoners use the things around them. Of course, besides the equipment is not proper, they are also not sterile and the worst thing is that it can lead to health risks such as infection or diseases such as HIV or Hepatitis C because of needles’ contamination.
So, what do prisoners use for ink when they make tattoos in prison? They usually use things like ink from pens, melted Styrofoam, soot which is mixed with shampoo, and melted plastic.
Ink made from soot is also known in the art-world as “lamp black”. When using soot, it will be mixed with water and a liquid binder. A liquid binder is needed because the mixture of soot and water is like oil and water so that they need to be bound together. Some people mix soot and water with hand lotion, toothpaste, liquid soap or shampoo.
Ink for making tattoos in prison can also be from the acrylic paint which can be bought in prisons for art purposes.
For the equipment, they usually use materials like magnets, staples, mechanical pencils, paper clips, radio transistors or even guitar strings. To minimize damage to the skin, a thin and sharp needle is needed for making tattoos. However, prisoners often use a sewing needle where they buy it at the commissary. Since the needle bought in the commissary is usually too thick and it can cause trauma to the skin, so, as explained on the Prison Writers, prisoners usually use the thin spring that they can find in retractable “click” pens. They will remove the thin spring from the pen and then straighten it and cut it and sharpen it. Another way to make tattoos is by using a guitar metal string. However, finding strings is harder because the string may only be found in music programs and instruments. When prisoners find a guitar, usually they will remove the metal, straighten it, cut it and then sharpen it the same as what they do with the spring.
If they ask other prisoners for making tattoos, they will pay them with food, cigarettes, stamps, phone time, canteen items or favors that they want or need.
The Risks of Making Tattoos in Prison
Everything is limited in prison. It means that prisoners cannot find proper equipment for making tattoos. They use the things around them for making tattoos and the equipment is not sterilized because the equipment for sterilization is not available. Because of that, getting tattoos in prison can be very risky. There are a number of health risks that can happen such as HIV/ AIDS and hepatitis because they share needles.
Besides, the ink that they use can also damage their skin where it can contain harmful chemicals or cause permanent scar. So, it is not recommended for getting tattoos.
Are Prisoners Permitted to Make Tattoos in Prison?
It is prohibited for prisoners for making tattoos in prison. And even the tattoo equipment itself is considered contraband. In 2011, The Federal Bureau of Prisons classified tattooing as a high severity prohibited act. If prisoners insist on doing it, it is possible that they will get punished.
So, even though tattooing in prison is not illegal, but this action is against institutional rules.
Motifs of Tattoos Made in Prison
Motifs of tattoos are different from one to another. There are different symbols and numbers where these represent gangs or groups. For example, as explained on Wikipedia, certain images such as spider web can represent the length of sentences. Another image can mean different things.
Tattoos can also be a means to show who they are. For example, a prisoner gets a prominent tattoo to show their beliefs. A tattoo of spider webs can also mean “being trapped”. Tattoos of three dots which are arranged as a triangle mean “mi vida loca” or “my crazy life” where it is usually had by Mexican prisoners who have a link to the Mexican Mafia. If the dots are four, the meaning is the same, but it is usually found on Mexican gang members linked with the Nuestra Familia.
Five dots tattoo is one of the common tattoos in prison where it is usually put on the hand and has different meanings in different cultures. There are also four dots tattoos put across the knuckles where it symbolizes ACAB which stands for All Cops Are Bastards where this tattoo is often found in the UK. The tattoo where a dot is put on each hand in between the thumb means that one is going to prison and one is that they have done their sentence.
Spider web tattoo, besides having the meaning as explained earlier, can also mean time served in prison if the tattoo is put on the elbow.
A common tattoo had by ex-prisoners in Ireland is a simple dot where it is put under the eye using Indian ink. It is known as a “jail dot”.
That’s all a number of motifs of tattoos had by prisoners according to Wikipedia. Of course, there are still many other motifs used by prisoners for their tattoos. And even though there are some similar images of tattoos, but they can have different meanings for each person or each group.
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.
