Wikipedia

Criminal tattoo

(Redirected from Gang tattoo)

There are histories and patterns of criminal tattoos in several countries and cultures, including forced tattooing as punishment for convicts and voluntary acquisition of tattoos by professional criminals and gang members. There are histories and patterns of criminal tattoos, including prison tattooing, in countries such as Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United States, and these patterns have been studied by criminologists. Some gangs have distinctive tattoos.[1][2] Tattoos can also be a record of the wearer's personal history—such as their skills, specialties, accomplishments, incarceration, world view and/or means of personal expression.[2] Tattoos have been associated with deviance, personality disorders, and criminality.[3][4] However, there is no causal relationship between tattoos and crime.[5]

History

edit
Illustration of an arm with tattoos including a mermaid and two women, next to an illustration of a naked man with tattoos from neck to foot that include flowers, words in French, people, a skull and crossbones, a small ship, and a rope around one leg
From The Criminal by Havelock Ellis (1890); originally by Cesare Lombroso

The art of tattooing dates back to 8000 BC when it was used as a means of identification amongst different cultures.[6] Ancient Greek and Roman histories, as well as ancient Japanese and Chinese histories possess a record of criminality being associated with tattoos, but it was not until the 16th to 18th century that this notion became more prevalent in other parts of the world. Over time, tattooing began to be used to mark prisoners and those who committed crimes, so law enforcement would be able to monitor those who disrupted and caused harm to communities. As a means of tracking criminals, noting a person's tattoos became an efficient way to document them. It provided a unique descriptor that set a criminal apart from others.[7]

Rebels and lawless individuals started to mark themselves with tattoos to signify their actions which they took pride in or identified with; this could be acts of rebellion, crimes, personal beliefs, and commitment to a certain group.[6] Convicts had knowledge of their tattoos being used to exercise more control over them, but the rebellious, individuality of tattoos proved to be more important.[7]

Criminal tattoos by country

edit

Australia

edit
Tattoo marking a deserter from the British Army. Skin removed post-mortem.

Prisoners who were transported from Britain to Australian penal colonies between 1787 and 1867 were sometimes tattooed with marks intended to signify disgrace, for example, D for deserter. Prisoners often modified these tattoos to conceal the original design or to express wry or rebellious messages.[8] A common prison tattoo in Australia is 'ACAC' - the initials to the derogatory phrase, 'all cops are *****'.[9]

China

edit

Because of Confucianism[10] and the association with the criminal underworld,[11] tattooing is looked down upon in China. Traditionally, tattooing was used to mark and publicly shame criminals.[12]

King Mu of Zhou ordered his vassal Lord Lü (吕侯) to formulate the Lü Xing.[13][relevant?] It lists the "Five Punishments": the five primary penalties employed by ancient Chinese officials on criminals.[14] The first (and least severe) of these punishments was the tattooing of the criminal's face with indelible ink. This punishment was known as mò (墨) or qíng (黥),[15][full citation needed] and later[citation needed] called mò xíng (墨刑) or rù mò (入墨).

Qingling[Chinese script needed], often known as "branding the face", has been used to tattoo the faces of convicts since before the Qin dynasty.

France

edit
"Mort aux vaches" tattoo

In France, five dots tattoo resembling the dots on a die, placed on the hand between index finger and thumb are found on prison inmates. This tattoo represents the individual between the four walls of the prison cell (un homme entre quatre murs—a man between four walls); this also has the same meaning in Russia, Germany[16] and Spain.

Tattoos of three dots on the hand mean "death to cops" (mort aux vaches / flics / poulets / keufs), also used in Germany, "nichts sehen, nichts hören, nichts sagen" ("see/hear/say nothing"= no snitch/ing.)[17]

A single dot on the cheek usually means the wearer is a pimp (point des maquereaux).

A stick figure holding a trident is also a common French prison tattoo.

Italy

edit

Towards the end of the 19th century, Italy implemented the Bertillonage system as a means to identify criminals; this method was used to also target anyone who was a threat to social order and was deemed "suspicious".[18]

Tattoos were not only seen on criminals but it was viewed as a common trait amongst criminals within the Bertillonage system. People with tattoos were set apart from others, and it was used as evidence that they were to be seen as different in the general public. This idea was applied to perceiving someone's psyche and deducing if they are biologically inclined to criminal behavior, as higher pain tolerance, primal nature, and shameless attitudes were associated with a predisposition towards criminal behavior.[18]

Specific, identifiable tattoos are seen within organized crime. "La Stidda," a Mafia-style criminal organization in Sicily, is known for using star tattoos to identify members.[18] This small, five-point star is called a stiddari and is typically placed between the thumb and index finger on the right hand.

Japan

edit
Tattooed yakuza

The Edo period in Japan exemplified the movement for internal peace within the country. Tattoos started to be used to mark those who committed crimes, which led to the association of tattoos with criminals. The Meiji restoration period followed the Edo period; Japan aimed to be viewed as more civilized during this time, so tattooing began to be considered barbaric and was outlawed throughout the country.[19]

Yakuza, the organized crime syndicate of Japan, dates back to the 17th century and maintains a strong loyalty. A form of committing is by embracing tattoos, which make them identifiable within the gang and to the public.[20]

The Yakuza's tattoos cover large areas of the body. The tattoos could cover arms, chest, back, and legs, but may not be visible when wearing traditional Japanese garments, such as a kimono, due to the specific placement. As a member of the Yakuza, enduring the painful process of tattooing was viewed as a declaration of loyalty and courage.[21] Modern Yakuza tattoos, with common symbols and visual motifs, are noted for their similarity to current Western tattoo styles.[22] Current Yakuza have full-body tattoos, typically inked in secret by tattoo artists associated with clans. Due to a clear association between tattoo artistry and crime, the practice was shortly banned following the Meiji restoration period. During the US occupation after World War II, this law was repealed.[23]

Because of the association of the Yakuza with tattoos, the stigmatization of tattoos in Japan has become a part of their cultural norm. As the public grew more knowledgeable about criminal activity, the portrayal of gangs became more common in popular films, which reinforced the connection between tattoos and suspected criminal behavior.[24] Although Yakuza membership declined after the Anti-Organized Crime Law was enacted in 1991 and enforced in 1992, the gang is still active.[19] As a means of avoiding interactions with gang members in public and the history of the association, people with tattoos, regardless of gang affiliation, are not permitted to enter a number of establishments due to societal standards and expectations.[20]

Russia

edit

Russian criminal tattoos have a complex system of symbols that can give detailed information about the wearer.[25] Wearing false or unearned tattoos is punishable in the criminal underworld. Tattoos made in a Russian prison use improvised ink and needles,[26] and often have a distinct bluish color and usually appear somewhat blurred because of the lack of instruments to draw fine lines. Tattoos of portraits of Soviet leaders like Lenin and Stalin were applied in the belief that they would protect against execution.[27]

In addition to voluntary tattooing, tattoos are used to stigmatize and punish individuals within the criminal society. These tattoos may be placed on an individual who fails to pay debts in card games, or otherwise breaks the criminal code, and often have very blatant sexual images, embarrassing the wearer. Tattoos on the forehead are sometimes forcibly applied, and designed both to humiliate the bearer and warn others about him or her. They frequently consist of slurs about the bearer's ethnicity, sexual orientation, or perceived cooperation with the prison authorities. They can indicate that the holder is a member of a political group considered offensive by other prisoners (e.g., Vlasovite), or has been convicted of a crime (such as child rape) that is disapproved of by other criminals. They can also advertise that the bearer is "downcast", or of the lowest social caste in prison, usually used for the sexual gratification of higher-ranked inmates.

Examples of body tattoos and their significance (these tattoos are most characteristic of the Old Regime when the Vory V Zakone was more structured in prisons):

  • American symbols, such as dollars, eagles, and the Statute of Liberty may have meanings including protest and a longing for freedom.[28]
  • Barbed wire across the forehead signifies a sentence of life imprisonment and refusal to reform.[28]
  • Birds over the horizon: "I was born free and should be free." Bearer longs for a life outside prison.[29]
  • Cat: a career as a thief. A single cat means the bearer worked alone; several cats mean the bearer was part of a gang.[29] The word "cat," in Russian, forms an acronym indicating the wearer's natural home is in prison. Alternately, can signify cleverness.
  • Celtic Cross: Part of the racist white power movement. It has also been used to represent crosshairs of a gun, meaning that a wearer is a hitman, and he too will meet a violent end one day.[30]
  • Cross: A small cross either on the forehead, finger, or between the thumb and forefinger is sometimes seen on convicts as a symbol of serving time in prison. There is another category of tattoos—of rings on the fingers and symbols on the hands—which informs other inmates of the bearer's rank when the bearer is clothed:[31] A cross on the chest can represent a high ranking in the Russian mob.[32]
  • Five dots: Represents time done in prison. Four of the dots represent walls, while the fifth represents the prisoner.[32]
  • Executioner: Murderer, or that they follow the Thieves' Code[30]
  • Spider Web: If the spider is in the center, the bearer is dedicated to a life of crime; if it is climbing out of the web, the bearer is trying to reform himself. A few other versions are that the wearer is a drug addict, like an insect trapped in a spider's web, he is trapped in some narcotic web, or that it signifies a time in prison as each ring of the spider web represents one year in prison.[32]
  • Stars or epaulettes on shoulders show status in the prison hierarchy and opposition to formal systems of power.[28]

United States

edit
MS-13 gang member with back body tattoo

Tattoos can commonly be found on those related to a gang, as they represent pride in their membership. The symbols and typefaces used will vary and can indicate which gang one may belong to; the location of the tattoo is also notable, as it indicates the level of exposure and potential identification one may want to have in the general public.[33]

One of the most well-known criminal tattoos is the teardrop tattoo.[34] This is more symbolic of criminal activity among West Coast gangs where a teardrop tattoo underneath the eye can indicate whether an individual committed murder or attempted murder.[35][36] Other meanings of this tattoo are indicating time spent in prison or the loss of a loved one associated with a gang.[35]

A common tattoo in American prisons for Hispanic inmates is four dots or three dots. The dots represent that you have earned your keep in your gang. The three dots would represent the 13 of the southern gangs and the same for the northern gangs with four dots :: for 14.[37] Geographic location is commonly referred to, so another identifiable tattoo is an area code (Ex. 213 would represent Los Angeles). Hispanic gangs have a trend of using old English script and incorporating religious themes in their tattoos, as a substantial portion of members and their families are Catholic. Their tattoos are frequently larger and easily visible.[33]

Markers of the Aryan Brotherhood, a white Neo-Nazi prison gang include but are not limited to the letters AB, Celtic imagery, and the number 666.[38] Themes of racism are evident in Aryan Brotherhood gang tattoos through white supremacist language and Nazi references.[33]

Gangs within law enforcement agencies, such as the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often use tattoos as identifiers.[39][40]

The Alien Enemy Validation Guide includes tattoos in order to designate someone as a member of a criminal association.[41]

Prison tattoos

edit

In the United States, the tattooing of criminals increased in the 1930s, and this could be attributed to tattooing in prisons. Although tattooing is highly prohibited in U.S. prisons, inmates take part and accept the disciplinary action often taken. Studies have shown that inmates would receive tattoos while serving their sentence are more extroverted; they have a sense of belonging and embrace being a prisoner. This trait is coupled with a lack of self-discipline.[6]

Since tattooing in prison is illegal in many jurisdictions, the inmates do not have the proper equipment necessary for the practice. This forces inmates to find ways to create their own tattooing devices out of their belongings. The tattoo ink used to create the tattoo requires a certain quality to appear correctly. Inmates can acquire ink a number of ways: street ink from visits or corrections officers or it could be created with a few components. Ink could be made with water, isopropyl alcohol, and black soot. Improvising meant burning various materials to acquire the soot and ingredients containing alcohol such as mouthwash. Improvised tattooing equipment has been assembled from materials such as mechanical pencils, Bic pens, radio transistors, staples, paper clips, or guitar strings.[42]

Certain tattoo designs have developed recognized coded meanings.[43] The code systems can be quite complex, and because of the nature of what they encode, the designs of criminal tattoos are not widely recognized as such to outsiders. Coded prison tattoos commonly found in North America:

  • Three dots making a triangle - typically on a hand, representing the three words "mi vida loca," Spanish for "my crazy life"[43]
  • Teardrop - under the eye; multiple meanings, commonly symbolizes committing or attempted murder[35]
  • Area codes - no specific location on body; gang members will identify with the area code of their neighborhood or gang's location[33]
  • Spider web or clock with no hands - symbolizes time spent in prison[43]
  • The number 13 - demonstrates being a member of the Mexican Mafia, a prison gang[29]
  • The number 14 - demonstrates being a member of the Nuestra Familia, a prison gang[32]

Tattoos for enslaved prostitutes

edit

Forced and enslaved prostitutes are often tattooed or branded with a mark of their pimps. Women and girls being forced into prostitution against their will may have their pimps' name or gang symbol inked or branded with a hot iron on their skin. In some organizations involved with the trafficking of women and girls, like the mafias, nearly all prostitutes are marked. Some pimps and organizations use their name or well-known logo, while others use secret signs.[44] In the past, the branding mark was usually small, sometimes hidden between the labia minora. Today, some pimps write their names in big letters upon the body of the victim.[45]

See also

edit

References

edit

Citations

edit
  1. ↑ Watkins, Derrick. (2007). Gang investigations : a street cop's guide. Ashby, Richard., American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7637-3391-9. OCLC 62593583.
  2. 1 2 Introduction to criminal investigation. Birzer, Michael L., 1960-, Roberson, Cliff, 1937-. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4398-3934-8. OCLC 747385725.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ↑ Wesley G. Jennings; Bryanna Hahn Fox; David P. Farrington (14 January 2014), "Inked into Crime? An Examination of the Causal Relationship between Tattoos and Life-Course Offending among Males from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development", Journal of Criminal Justice, 42 (1, January–February 2014): 77–84, doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2013.12.006
  4. ↑ Joshua Adams (2012), "The Relationship between Tattooing and Deviance in Contemporary Society", Deviance Today, pp. 137–145
  5. ↑ Jennings, Wesley G.; Fox, Bryanna Hahn; Farrington, David P. (1 January 2014). "Inked into Crime? An Examination of the Causal Relationship between Tattoos and Life-Course Offending among Males from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development". Journal of Criminal Justice. 42 (1): 77–84. doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2013.12.006. ISSN 0047-2352.
  6. 1 2 3 Brady, C (September 1993). "From punishment to expression: a history of tattoos in corrections". Corrections Compendium. 18 (9): 1–5 – via NCJRS.
  7. 1 2 Saunders, Rosie (4 October 2021). "Inked and Exiled: How Tattoo Culture Became Synonymous with Criminals in Britain". Medium. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Niyi Awofeso (June 2004). "Prison argot and penal discipline". Journal of Mundane Behavior. 5 (1). Archived from the original on 1 June 2005.
  9. ↑ Byard, Roger W. (September 2025). "Learning to read and interpret tattoos". Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology. 21 (3): 1511–1514. doi:10.1007/s12024-025-00940-w. ISSN 1556-2891. PMC 12491106. PMID 39821790.
  10. ↑ Classic of Filial Piety 「身體髮膚，受之父母，不敢毀傷，孝之始也。」 "Your body, including your hair and skin, has been received from your father and mother, and you should not dare to harm or destroy it. This is the beginning of filial piety."
  11. ↑ 财经, 网 (3 February 2017). "为什么中国社会普遍不认可纹身？" [Why do Chinese society generally disapprove of tattoos?]. Sohu.
  12. ↑ Theobald, Ulrich (27 August 2016). "Lüxing 呂刑". www.chinaknowledge.de. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  13. ↑ Wei Guoku (魏国库) (1985). 中国历代刑法浅谈 [A brief talk on Criminal Law of Chinese Dynasties]. Jiangxi People's Publishing House. p. 65.
  14. ↑ Li Li (李力) (1997). 出土文物与先秦法制 [Unearthed cultural relics and the Pre-Qin legal system]. Elephant Publishing House. p. 62. ISBN 9787534720567.
  15. ↑ Qian Zongwu (钱宗武), ed. (2017). Shang shu. Beijing. ISBN 978-7-5013-6243-1. OCLC 1137027815.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  16. ↑ Baldayev, Danzig (2006), Russian criminal tattoo encyclopedia, Volume 3, FUEL Publishing, p. 214.
  17. ↑ Tung, Angela (24 February 2016). "The Hidden Meanings Behind 11 Prison Tattoos". Mental Floss.
  18. 1 2 3 Hodapp, Christopher (2008). Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dummies. Wiley Publishing. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-470-18408-0.
  19. 1 2 Cole, Michael (30 January 2019). "Asia Pacific Perspectives Journal - V16No1 Fall/Winter 2018-19 - Skutlin". University of San Francisco. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Yakuza: Past and Present | Office of Justice Programs". www.ojp.gov. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  21. ↑ Maruko, E (2002). "The "Underworld" Goes Underground". Harvard Asia Quarterly. 6 (3): 14–18.
  22. ↑ Boyd, Oscar (15 September 2018). "'Yakuza Tattoo': Inside the secretive world of the yakuza's tattoos". The Japan Times. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  23. ↑ ""Irezumi": The Japanese Tattoo Unveiled". nippon.com. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  24. ↑ Varese, Federico (February 2006). "The Secret History of Japanese Cinema: The Yakuza movies". Global Crime. 7 (1): 105–124. doi:10.1080/17440570600650166. ISSN 1744-0572.
  25. ↑ Banerjee, N. (29 July 1992). Russian convicts use body language of their very own --- prison tattoos spell out lives of crime and establish the hierarchy of inmates. Wall Street Journal.
  26. ↑ Williams, D. (29 May 2000). Russia journal; prison gave an artist career in the skin trade. The Washington Post.
  27. ↑ "Russian prison tattoos hold a million telling tales". The Albuquerque Tribune. 18 May 2001. p. 12. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  28. 1 2 3 Putz, Natalie (12 March 2026). "The state beneath the skin: tattoos as uncensored testimony in Russian prisons". Semiotica. doi:10.1515/sem-2025-0162. ISSN 1613-3692.
  29. 1 2 3 "15 more prison tattoos and their meanings". Corrections1. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  30. 1 2 The Mark of Cain (2000), film on Russian criminal tattoos; DVD, ASIN B0011UBDV8
  31. ↑ [Baldaev, D. S., and Sergei Vasiliev. Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia. Vol. 1. London: Fuel, 2009. Print.]
  32. 1 2 3 4 "15 prison tattoos and their meanings". Corrections1. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  33. 1 2 3 4 Mallon, William K.; Russell, Marie A. (September 1999). "Clinical and Forensic Significance of Tattoos". Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal. 21 (3): 21. ISSN 1931-4485.
  34. ↑ MacDonald, John Marshall (1987). The confession: interrogation and criminal profiles for police officers. Apache Press. p. 83. ISBN 9780961823009.
  35. 1 2 3 "Erasing the Past: Tattoo-Removal Programs for Former Gang Members (FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin)". NCJRS Virtual Library. August 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  36. ↑ Smith, Brendan (25 April 2008). "Tattoo Regret". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  37. ↑ Goslin, Charles (2017). Understanding Personal Security and Risk: A Guide for Business Travelers. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-3153-5035-6.
  38. ↑ "White Gang Tattoos". Police Magazine. 7 August 2009.
  39. ↑ Hurowitz, Noah (16 July 2025). "CBP Agents Can Have Gang Tattoos — as Long as They Cover Them Up". The Intercept. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  40. ↑ Castle, Cerise (22 March 2021). "The Protected Class". Knock LA. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023.
  41. ↑ Jake Horton, British man's tattoo wrongly linked to Venezuelan gang in US government document, BBC News, 11 April 2025.
  42. ↑ Whidden, Calen "Wolf" (7 October 2022). "A Brief Lesson on Prison Ink". Prison Journalism Project. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  43. 1 2 3 "Murder ink? Tattoos can be tricky as evidence". The Progress-Index. 6 June 2014. pp. A6. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  44. ↑ Sidner, Sara (31 August 2015). "Old mark of slavery is being used on sex trafficking victims". CNN.
  45. ↑ McMenamy, Emma (19 October 2014). "Pictured: Trafficked prostitutes BRANDED by pimps to show they 'own' them". Irish Mirror.

Other sources

edit

Further reading

edit
  • Glover, S. (18 October 1997). A marked man from tattoo to taps; violence: Out of jail and 35, Robert Torres was ready for a fresh start, but a gang insignia betrayed him. Los Angeles Times.
  • Hiatt, F. (23 August 1993). Gulag no longer, but still the lower depths; for many of the 1 million Russian prisoners, life inside is `Equal to torture'. The Washington Post (Pre-1997 Fulltext).
  • Williams, D. (29 May 2000). Russia journal; prison gave an artist career in the skin trade. The Washington Post.
edit

Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Criminal tattoo at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criminal_tattoo&oldid=1350093756"