By decoding the meanings of these tattoos, correctional staff can improve their situational awareness and enhance security for themselves and their colleagues. Here are 15 prison tattoos and their meanings:
In the intricate realm of corrections, grasping inmate behavior is essential for ensuring safety within prison walls. Tattoos function as visual indicators, providing insights into an inmate’s affiliations, beliefs, and criminal backgrounds.
1. 1488 Tattoo: Symbol of White Supremacy
White supremacist inmates generally associate the tattoo of 1488, which includes the digits 14 and 88, with themselves. A quote from Nazi leader David Lane makes it clear that this tattoo represents a vow to racial purity and the principles of Nazism. Understanding its value helps to recognize possible threats within that population of inmates.
2. Cobweb: Sign of Long-Term Incarceration
A cobweb tattoo is associated with a long time in prison, and its meaning can be explained by the fact that a person feels like a spider’s bait. Always observed in the elbows it signifies long stay and lack of freedom or feeling like being locked up in the criminal justice system.
3. Teardrop: Marker of Violence or Loss
Perhaps, one of the most popular tattoos, easily identifiable as a prison mark, a teardrop may have different meanings depending on the zone. It could mean a long term imprisonment, use of force or the mourning of a partner in marriage. It is important to evaluate a number of factors of an inmate, and knowing its different meanings is important for this purpose.
4. Five-Point Crown: Indicator of Gang Affiliation
The five-point crown, worn by members of the Latin Kings gang, represents allegiance to one of the largest Hispanic gangs in the U.S. Often accompanied by the acronym ALKN, this tattoo signals gang affiliation and possible involvement in criminal activities.
5. Three Dots: Representation of “Mi Vida Loca”
The three dots tattoo, a common prison symbol, reflects a life of chaos and unpredictability. While not tied to a specific gang, it represents adherence to a gang lifestyle and its associated risks. Understanding its meaning helps identify individuals entrenched in the criminal subculture.