Doing something risky doesn’t automatically make it brave. To be called brave, the action should have a purpose and serve a cause. If you take dangerous actions just for a photo or to prove a point, it’s not bravery, but rather foolishness risking your life for pointless reasons. The only upside is entertaining others with your antics.
Barbed Wire
It might seem like a barbed wire tattoo symbolizes breaking free from wired prison fences, but in reality, the thorns on the wire represent the number of years a person has spent in prison.
ACAB
If you’ve had a negative encounter with the police, you might choose to get a specific tattoo. It stands for “All Cops Are Bastards” and can also be represented as 1312, aligning with the placements of the letters in the alphabet.
Five Dots
A straightforward five-dot tattoo carries the meaning that a person has served or is currently serving a prison sentence. The four dots surrounding the middle dot symbolize the prison walls, while the dot in the center represents the prisoner confined within those walls.
Three Dots
A three-dot tattoo serves as a kind of Morse code among prisoners, signifying “mi vida loca” or “my crazy life.” This tattoo suggests an affiliation with a gang but doesn’t reveal the specific gang.
Bolts
Lightning bolts as tattoos on prisoners are typically associated with white supremacist groups. Knowing the meaning behind these bolts reveals a disturbing connection to such ideologies. Many prisoners who do not align with white supremacist views consider these tattoos as hate symbols.
Teardrops
Teardrop tattoos are among the most recognizable and have gained popularity even among regular people. Typically placed underneath an eye, the tattoo gives the appearance of a tear rolling down the cheek.
Prison Break
Tattoos depicting prison breaks are created to convey an attitude and an intention to break out, although it’s not the smartest way to express such plans. Inmates with escape-themed tattoos often receive a certain level of respect from other prisoners.
Clowns
Clown face tattoos on prisoners are usually inked with one happy face and one sad. But make no mistake, there is nothing funny about them. Prisoners believe they are depicting opposite situations, such as happy life before and sad life now.
Angel Forever, Forever Angel
The phrase “Angel Forever, Forever Angel” is commonly associated with the ‘Hells Angels’ gang. The tattoo with the acronym “AFFA” is particularly popular among ‘Hells Angels’ members who are in prison, often found on their hands.
Fourteen
Similar to many other prison tattoos, a number often corresponds to a letter in the alphabet. For instance, the fourteenth letter is N. In this context, it might represent the Norteno gang, also known as Latino Kings, which primarily operates in California.
Spider Web
Spider web tattoos, especially located on the elbow, convey that the prisoner is serving a lengthy sentence. The symbolism behind this tattoo is that the prison sentence is comparable to a web being intricately spun over time.
Pointed Crown
The five-pointed crown is another gang-related tattoo, often associated with the California gang “The Latin Kings,” but other gangs may also use it. This tattoo is common among prisoners, especially those affiliated with such gangs, as members of these groups frequently find themselves incarcerated.
Shamrock
The shamrock is a favored tattoo among white supremacist gangs, such as the Aryan Brotherhood. In this context, the shamrock symbolizes membership in the “brotherhood,” indicating affiliation with the gang.
EWMN
The tattoo that reads “Evil. Wicked. Mean. Nasty.” serves as an indicator of the type of prisoner a guard might be dealing with. Inmates often wear this tattoo to embrace their criminal lifestyle and convey a tough, gangster image.
1488
The 1488 tattoo is associated with prisoners linked to white supremacist gangs. While some may mistakenly think it represents a year, the ’14’ in 1488 is related to the 14-word phrase from a racist quote by David Lane, a Nazi leader. The entire number holds significance within white supremacist ideologies.
Crown Ring
A crown tattooed as a ring, distinct from the five-pointed crown, is inspired by the Irish Claddagh ring. This tattoo carries a similar meaning, symbolizing faithfulness and affection. It reflects a commitment or loyalty, often chosen by individuals with a connection to Irish culture or sentiment.
Epaulette
The epaulette tattoo may seem unusual as a prison tattoo, considering it resembles the shoulder fitting on police uniforms. However, in Soviet Russia, the meaning behind this tattoo was peculiar and likely held significance within the context of the Soviet prison culture.
Huge Cross
Contrary to its religious symbolism, the size of a cross tattoo in the context of prison gangs has nothing to do with religion. Instead, it bizarrely signifies one’s status within the gang. The larger the cross, the higher the individual’s seniority or standing in the gang hierarchy.
Card
The dice tattoo carries a straightforward meaning – the person sporting it enjoys gambling, and the gamble extends to their life. It’s a symbol that suggests a risky lifestyle, implying that perhaps making better life choices could have led to a different outcome than ending up in prison.
Dagger In The Neck
You would not want to cross paths with someone who has a dagger in the neck tattoo. This means that the prisoner has killed before and is willing to kill again. Why mess with someone who will easily kill someone?
Women
The influence of Russian prison culture is evident in various tattoo meanings. In Russia, if prisoners have tattoos of women, it signifies that they have undergone official admission into the Russian mafia. These tattoos often serve as visible markers of a person’s criminal affiliations and experiences within the prison system.
MS-13
Just like many gang-related tattoos, the MS-13 tattoo can usually be found on an inmate’s hands or face. The tattoos are used by the famous El Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha.Â
Lenin And Stalin
A tattoo with the face of Lenin or Joseph Stalin was tattooed by some prisoner in the USSR on their chests. Prisoners thought the guards who wanted to shoot at them would think twice about defacing Lenin or Stalin’s image.
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