| In prison, a tattoo design usually tells three things about | | | | mourning for the death of a friend who died inside the |
| a convict. Who he is, where he has been and what he | | | | prison. |
| has done. The symbolism of criminal and prison tattoos | | | | 4. 8 balls means being behind the eight ball or a bad |
| has been a real interest to some especially to the | | | | luck. |
| police. | | | | 5. A laughing face and a crying face symbolizes that |
| Tattoos that are done in prison are usually freehand | | | | the wearer is a member of a gang, play now, pay |
| with ink from a pen. A sewing needle is used to form | | | | later. |
| a word or an image. Convicts also made a tattoo | | | | 6. The anagram SWP also means Supreme White |
| machine out of a guitar string, a ball point pen and a | | | | Power |
| nine volt battery. | | | | 7. The word featherwood means Female White Pride |
| Police sometimes use a tattoo image to identify | | | | while the word Peckerwood is Male White Pride |
| suspects and parolees. For instance, a gun drawn | | | | 8. 100% Pure is a symbol of White pride tattoo |
| downwards means that the man prefers to be armed. | | | | 9. A female face crying represents there is a person |
| Tattoo images of towers, walls and barbwire means | | | | he loves waiting for him to get out of prison. |
| that a person has been in prison for a short time. For | | | | 10. An image of a cell window with a sun or a bird |
| prisoners, their decision of having tattoos reminds them | | | | means waiting to get out. |
| of dangers and difficulties inside the prison. | | | | 11. Bricks falling outward signifies that a prisoner on the |
| Below are the lists of some of the symbolism | | | | inside wanting to get out. |
| associated with classic prison tattoo images: | | | | A tattoo image of a prisoner not only signifies the sins |
| 1. A clock without hands, spiders and cobwebs on | | | | they have to pay in jail but also holds a deep meaning |
| shoulders means doing time | | | | to them. A person's tattoo is not just a reflection of |
| 2. Gravestones with numbers on them means the | | | | one's being but also a person's expression or feelings |
| number of years they will be or were in jail | | | | that describe the phases of their lives. |
| 3. Gravestones with R.I.P. and numbers represent | | | | |