Prison tattoos. What do they mean? Though technically illegal in virtually all countries, prison tattooing is a tradition that transcends race, nationality, or affiliation. Virtually all long-term prisoners have some kind of prison-applied ink, with each tattoo containing intricate and codified meanings.
Prison tattoos are usually applied with crude, homemade needles and ink made from stolen pens or other materials. As such, they're often green or blue, with little color or variation in tone. But what prison tattoos lack in beauty, they make up for in story. The tattoos a prisoner wears tells his or her story, indicates what gang they're affiliated with, where they're from, and what they did. Some simply indicate a disrespect for authority, others in prison show that the wearer is a hardcore member of the Mexican Mafia or Aryan Brotherhood and is not to be messed with.
Looking for prison tattoo meanings? Here are some of the most common prison tattoo designs created by criminals, each with their own meaning and story.
Common Prison Tattoos and What They Mean,
Lightning Bolts
Twin lightning bolts tattooed on a prisoner usually signify allegiance to the Aryan Brotherhood or another white power group. They’re meant to represent the dual lightning bolt runes of the SS, the elite soldiers of Nazi Germany – as well as the enforcers of racial purity laws.
Three Dots
Three dots around the eyes usually signify some kind of allegiance with a Mexican gang – meaning in Spanish, “mi vida loca” or “my crazy life.” They can also have religious significance, standing for the Holy Trinity (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Teardrops
A common and easily applied prison tattoo, the teardrop has a number of different meanings. Traditionally, it means the wearer has killed someone, but this is not always the case. It can mean a lengthy prison sentence, or, when simply the outline of a teardrop, can mean the wearer is in prison for attempted murder. Or it can mean the wearer had a friend murdered and will be out for revenge.
Playing Cards
A set of playing cards inked on a prisoner usually signifies that the wearer either enjoys gambling or feels that life itself is a gamble. In the intricate world of Russian prison tattoos, they have a slightly different meaning, with each suit signifying a different rank or status. Some of these are forcibly applied, such as a diamond, usually meaning the prisoner is a snitch and the other prisoners are meant to know that.
Cobwebs
A cobweb tattoo on the elbow usually represents a long prison term, as if the wearer is caught in the web of a spider and will never get out. Cobwebs can also have racist connotations, usually if applied under the arm and worn by someone with other race-based tattoos. They can even mean that the wearer has killed a person of another race, but not always.
1488
A seemingly innocuous number, “1488” actually has a very specific meaning – and it’s a nasty one. The number 14 stands for “14 words” or the mantra of the Aryan Brotherhood – the 14 word phrase “we must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” The 88 is the equivalent of HH, or “Heil Hitler.”
Five Dots
Not to be confused with the three dots tattoo, the five dots tattoo is worn between the thumb and forefinger and is also called the “quincunx.” It signifies that the wearer has done time, with the dot in the center representing the wearer, and the other dots the prison walls.
Barbed Wire
While a barbed wire tattoo across the forearm is a popular affectation for many young people, they have a different meaning in prison culture, especially in Russia. Barbed wire across the forehead usually means the wearer has a life sentence without possibility of parole. Barbed wire in other places can signify the number of years one has served.
Clock with No Hands
Many prisoners serving long sentences view time as meaningless. When you’ve got years or decades to go, what’s one hour or one day? Hence the number of prison lifers who have a tattoo of a clock with no hands. It signifies that the wearer has nothing but time.
ACAB
Usually inked across the back of the neck or on the knuckles, ACAB is an acronym for “All Cops Are Bastards.” They’re predominately found in British prisons, and usually signify that the wearer went to prison to protect his crew.