Tattoos have long been used to identify people in many cultures. The gang culture of today is no different. Gangs members use tattoos for several reasons. First, gang members will frequently have numerous tattoos, particularly if they have spent time in prison. These tattoos may include one or more symbols that the gang has adopted as something unique to identify the gang and it’s members.

The tattoos can be as subtle as the numbers on a tombstone tattoo, which indicate how many years a prisoner has served. Or spider webs on the elbows or shoulders, which bespeak the imprisoned life. To outsiders, a simple ‘88’ tattooed on someone’s arm may seem innocent enough. But those in the know understand that H is the eighth letter of the alphabet, and that HH is an acronym for Heil Hitler. Prisoners use all kinds of symbols, words, and numbers to show their affiliations to other convicts.

Second, tattoos are worn and used for intimidation. Many members, particularly if the gang has a propensity for violence, will have the gang name tattooed in large bold letters so that other persons or gang members will know what gang the person represents.

Wearing an unauthorized gang tattoo could be hazardous to a person’s health, particularly in prison. Prison gang inmates have been known to remove unauthorized tattoos on non-gang members by cutting the tattoo from the person’s flesh.

 

Tattoo recognition and interpretation is a valuable tool when dealing with state prison parolees. A convict’s ink will tell you three sweet pieces of info about him. Who he is, what he’s done and where he’s been.

Many times the convict will have his name or street name on him. I have even heard of having one’s CDC # put on. Also a loved ones name may help you ID him. What he’s done often relates to his crimes. For example if he carries a gun, a picture of the weapon maybe on him. If the gun is pictured from the side this means he carries a gun. If the weapon is pointed outward, this means he is a shooter. Where he’s been has to do with the joints he has called home. The ink in relation to the joints he’s been in will be landmarks. Landmarks such as walls, gun towers, cell doors or windows and bob wire. Remember to take your time and read the ink.

Joint ink starts out as one color. Blue. It may turn black or purple according to the sun and the skin pigment but it usually starts out blue. If you see other colors besides blue, or it’s variations, the tat probably is not a true joint tat.

There are two ways of giving a tat. Free hand, which most are, or machine. Free hands a no brainer. You get some ink, usually out of a pen, and you dip a needle, usually a straight pen, and you use the Polynesian method. That is a series of dots to form a picture or word. These tats are crude and sloppy and very noticeable.

The second method is the machine. A home made tat machine consists of a slot car motor, a hollowed out ball point pin, some guitar string, a 9 volt battery and the ink. The hollowed out pen is wired or taped to the motor facing away from it. The guitar string is wrapped around the arm of the motor and run through the pen so it sticks out about a 16th of an inch out the end. Hook up a flashlight battery and its tat time. When the battery is hooked up, the motor arm vibrates which moves the guitar string back and forth rapidly in and out of the end of the pen and as long as you keep dipping the end in the ink, you can create a tattoo. Machine ink jobs are more detailed because of the method but also because they are usually done with stencils. Getting caught giving a tat or getting one in the joint is a serious crono.

 

Tattoos and their Meaning

 

Clock faces without handsTombstones with numbers on themTombstones with numbers and RIPSpider or cob webs on elbows or shouldersEight ballsOne laughing face, one crying faceSWPPeckerwoodFeatherwoodViking themesGranite block walls100 % pureCell window with sun or bird showingFace of female cryingSURNorteanoPrison block wall with bricks falling outward

Doing timeThe years they were insideMourning the death of a friendDoing timeBehind the eight ball or bad luckPlay now, pay later or my happy life, my sad lifeSupreme white powerWhite pride ( males )White pride ( females )Common Caucasian tatTime in Old Folsom PrisonPure white or angloWaiting to get outHas someone on the outside waitingSouthernerNorthernerInside wanting to get out