by c1 staff
Jail staff can be safer if they know as much as they can about inmates. and sometimes inmates make it easy to know exactly what they’ve been up to by using tattoos.
here are 15 tattoos and their secret meanings. Do you know of a different meaning for the tattoos shown here? share it in the comments. Be sure to check out more of our coverage on prison tattoos, including 15 more prison tattoos and their meanings, 12 Russian prison tattoos and their meanings, and a collection of inmates using prison ink.
1488 (Photo freetattoodesigns.org)
This number can be found on white supremacist/Nazi inmates. numbers 14 or 88 can also be used alone, which sometimes creates confusion.
fourteen represents fourteen words, which are a quote from nazi leader david lane: “we must ensure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” 88 is short for the eighth letter of the alphabet twice, hh, which stands for heil hitler. These tattoos can generally be found anywhere on the body.
The Cobweb (Photo Timeless Tattoos Glasglow)
Cobwebs often represent a long prison sentence. the symbolism is associated with spiders catching prey; or criminals caught behind bars. This tattoo is commonly found on the elbow, which means sitting so long with your elbows on the table that a spider webbed your elbow, although it can also be found on your neck.
If you see a multicolored spider web, it’s probably not a prison tattoo; prison tattoo ‘artists’ rarely have access to colored ink.
Teardrop (Photo trendfashion2013)
One of the most recognized prison tattoos, the meaning of the tear varies geographically. in some places, the tattoo can mean a long prison sentence, while in others it means that the wearer has committed murder.
If the tear is just an outline, it can symbolize an assassination attempt. It can also mean that one of the inmate’s friends was killed and that he is seeking revenge.
The tear has recently been popularized by rappers and other celebrities, but it remains a staple in prisons. those who are rookies behind bars with a teardrop tattoo will make a lot of enemies, fast.
Five-point crown (Photo Gwan Soon Lee Tattoo)
This is the symbol of the Latin Kings gang, which is one of the largest Hispanic gangs in the United States. based in chicago. the crown will often be accompanied by the letters alkn, meaning almighty nation of latin kings. The five points are due to the fact that the Latin Kings are affiliated with the People Nation gang, which is represented by the number five.
Latin Kings have a huge presence both in and out of jail, with their roots dating back to the 1940s. Other details of the crown, like the colors of the jewels on the tips, can have another level of hidden meanings.
Three dots (Photo Whiserkino)
The three dots tattoo is a common prison tattoo that represents “my crazy life” or “my crazy life”. it is not associated with any particular gang, but with the gang lifestyle itself. this tattoo is usually found on the hands or around the eyes.
It can also have some religious meaning, such as representing the holy trinity of Christianity. The three dot tattoo is often created using a stick and push method, which requires very rudimentary tools.
Five dots (Photo My Sarisari Store)
These dots differ greatly from the previous tattoo: five dots represent time spent in prison. Also known as the quincunx, the four points on the outside represent four walls, and the fifth on the inside represents the prisoner.
This tattoo can be found internationally, among both American and European inmates. the points are usually found on an inmate’s hand, between the thumb and forefinger.
five points on other parts of the body can have different meanings, such as an association with the nation’s gang of people.
The clock with no hands (Photo Tattoo Me Pink)
This tattoo is obviously representative of “making time” and doing a lot. those serving a longer sentence can get this tattoo on their wrist, watch straps and all, just like a real watch.
The clock face itself can have a few shapes, such as the face of a wall clock or a grandfather clock. Not all clock tattoos are linked to prison; usually just the ones without hands.
Aryan Brotherhood (Photo Media Lib)
This prison gang has a variety of tattoos to watch out for, ranging from “ab” to Nazi symbols like a swastika or ss bolts. The Brotherhood make up 1 percent of the prison population, but they are responsible for 20 percent of the murders within the US. uu. prisons, so identifying these tattoos is extremely beneficial.
tattoos can also be referred to as alice baker, the one-two or the mark.
Norteño (Photo Know Gangs)
The Norteño tattoos represent the Nuestra Familia gang, which is associated with the Hispanic gangs of Northern California. His tattoos include the word norteño, our family, a hat symbol, the letter n or the number 14, which symbolizes the 14th letter of the alphabet (yes, the letter n).
The Norteños are rivals to the Suereños, Hispanic gangs based in Southern California. The unofficial dividing line between the two is in Delano, California. Northerners identify themselves with red bandanas and derive their income primarily from the smuggling and distribution of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
La Eme (Photo Police Mag)
‘la eme’, or the m, is the symbol of the Mexican mafia. They are one of the largest and most ruthless prison gangs in the US. uu. they are allied with the aryan brotherhood and have a common enemy in our family.
em started not in mexico, but in mexican americans who were incarcerated in american prisons. The EME is a Southern gang, belonging to a large Hispanic gang affiliation in Southern California.
MS 13 (Photo Wikimedia)
ms 13, also sometimes seen as ms or 13, is a symbol of the mara salvatrucha gang from el salvador. These tattoos can generally be found anywhere on the body, but are most often found in highly visible places such as the face, hands, or neck.
The Mara Salvatrucha was started in the Los Angeles area by Salvadoran immigrants. there are now ms-13 chapters all over us. uu. and even in Canada. its industries range from drug trafficking to child prostitution.
Playing cards (Photo Tattos Time)
playing cards, or deck suits in general, usually indicate an inmate who likes to gamble. this applies to gaming games both inside and without; it can also represent a person who generally sees life as a gamble.
This tattoo is very popular in Russian prisons, where each mallet has its own meaning. a shovel represents a thief; the clubs symbolize criminals in general. diamonds are reserved for stools and informants: if the cards have this deck, then it was probably applied hard. hearts implies that someone is looking for a romantic partner in prison, which can also be forcibly applied.
EWMN (Photo Turner)
these cards represent “evil, wicked, mean, nasty”. having no particular gang affiliation, they merely represent the general disposition of some prison inmates.
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Typically found on the knuckles, these types of tattoos were popularized in 1955 by Robert Mitchum in ‘The Night of the Hunter’. his sociopathic preacher persona had the words ‘love’ and ‘hate’ tattooed on the knuckles of each hand, which has sparked other variants such as ‘rock/roll’ and ‘stay/down’.
Cross on the chest (Photo Adimaz)
Particularly found in Russian prisons, chest tattoos symbolize a “prince of thieves”. this is the highest rank a Russian convict can attain, and they are generally worn by superiors in the mob.
Russian prisons have a unique and intricate history of prison tattoos, each with its own unique meaning. another example is the bells, symbolizing freedom, or a tiger on the chest is a symbol of aggression towards the police.
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A.C.A.B. (Photo SAS)
This acronym is commonly found on the bodies of British prisoners and stands for “all policemen are bastards”.
some claim that a.c.a.b. it also means “always carry a bible”, but it is believed that they are people who regret their decision to get tattooed. Often found on the knuckles, the tattoo symbolizes a willingness to go to prison for your crew or gang.
next: 15 more prison tattoos and their meanings
