Indeed, among prisoners, some tattoos have a strictly defined meaning. They can express membership in a particular group or simply indicate personal identity, but they can also represent a kind of “summary” of the prisoner – for those who can read them. They reveal information such as the number of years in prison or his criminal history, and therefore serve as true identifiers.
As Jérôme Pierre, author of the book on prison tattoos Bad Boys , which he co-wrote with Eric Guyon, wrote in an interview with Mediapart
: “At first glance, these tattoos may seem like ordinary decorative signs. But in the eyes of the initiated, they are a real identity card.”
In this article, we attempt to present a list of tattoos analyzed by experts on criminal organizations and prison officials. We will show that these tattoos are not just for aesthetics, but also convey a specific and sometimes terrifying message.
Here are 14 prison tattoo designs that have scary meanings and will make you think twice before getting a tattoo. This is a decision that should never be taken lightly.
