42 Best Prison Tattoo Designs With Meanings

People with prison tattoo designs are typically spotted everywhere. Prevalent among the prison inmates, these jailhouse tattoos are much loved outside the bars as they hold strong narratives. They tell endless stories about the prisoners.

Expressing the prisoners’ extent of crimes, gang-based affiliations, disregard for authority, personal attributes, and the time spent by the prisoner behind the bars are what these jail tattoos do best. These tattoos are made with rough equipment, for instance, ballpoint pens, staples, paper clips, styrofoam, molten rubber, rudimentary needles, and much other similar paraphernalia, which makes it a unique form of art that can be termed as penitentiary art or incarcerated art. As a result, their tattoos appear rough, unlike their professional and neat counterparts.

But that does not stop the designs from being famous. Their solid and deep narratives compensate for the look of these inmate tattoos. Here are some such designs worth looking at.

Meaning Of Prison Tattoos

Every tattoo has a unique meaning that is frequently derived from the wearer’s journey and experiences. For instance:

• Tattoos of tears may symbolize violent crimes or loss, while spider webs may symbolize time spent in jail or an involvement in illegal activities.
• Teardrop tattoos can represent various meanings, such as loss, revenge, or the number of years served. In certain cultures, a filled teardrop may indicate a murder conviction, while an empty one often symbolizes personal loss or grief.
• Other designs such as the three dots or playing cards indicate gang connections or a willingness to take chances, while a barbed wire or prison bars represent imprisonment and rebellion against authority.

In addition to expressing a person’s background, these tattoos also show their current links and connections within the complex social structure of prison life.

Prison tattoos are a distinctive way for prisoners to express themselves and communicate their identities and personal stories. Scroll down to the next section for some prison tattoo designs to gain inspiration.

42 Best Prison Tattoo Designs With Meanings

Prison tattoos often represent themes of resilience and identity in the face of hardship. They can vary in styles, from minimalist designs to intricate patterns that reflect the artist’s skills. Understanding these styles can help you choose a design that best shares your story and adds meaning to each tattoo. So here is a list of designs that will surely leave you stunned and wanting more.

1. Prison Break Tattoo Map

This prison break tattoo map on the sleeve represents a story of liberation and escape. It symbolizes a quest to overcome challenges and achieve independence. The map acts as a blueprint and helps to plot a path across obstacles and barriers in the direction of a fresh start. You can also get a gangster tattoo to match the vibe of the design.

2. Evil Prison Tattoo

This tattoo features prison bars with a skull sadly looking at the onlooker. The bars stand for imprisonment, while the skull denotes death, risk, and disrespect for society. Together, they may reflect a possible prior criminal activity or attraction to the darker sides of society.

3. Prison Neck Tattoo

If you like old school tattoos this body art is for you. This tattoo features a large skull with colorful patterns all over it. While a skull is associated with criminal activity or one’s rank in a gang, the blue and brown shades add a pop of vibrancy to this menacing tattoo.

4. Soviet Prison Tattoo

This tattoo features a skull with flowers and a crown. The skull with a crown creates a dark theme centering around rebellion and death, while the flowers add a surprising touch of beauty and represent hope and growth in the face of darkness and harsh conditions.

5. French Prison Tattoo

This tattoo features a bird yearning for the freedom to go beyond limits and longing for liberation. It may also represent fortitude, optimism, and the quest for a better future outside the prison walls.

6. Prison Hand Tattoo

This tattoo features a skull looking menacingly at the onlookers, which is sure to send a chill down your spine. The dark shading around the skull beautifully contrasts with the light color of the skull, creating a visually striking design. The skull is a symbol of death and serves as a warning of the threats and risks that come with being imprisoned.

7. Spider Web Prison Tattoo

Spider web tattoos are very popular designs. A spider web prison tattoo on the arm stands for danger, imprisonment, and resilience. The simple lines connect together to form a web that represents the battle against misfortune when a person gets caught in its web. It may also denote previous imprisonment or connection with criminal elements.

8. Prison G Shield Tattoo

This tattoo features a shield with “G” behind bars. The “G” may indicate gang membership or loyalty to a certain code of behavior, while the shield stands for protection against threats and hazards associated with prison life. Placed on the upper back, it serves as a visible symbol of identification and loyalty inside the prison system.

9. Prison Fence Tattoo

A prison fence tattoo on the thigh represents the feeling of being stuck behind the walls of a prison. It evokes thoughts of imprisonment and being alone and represents the psychological and physical barriers that people involved in the criminal justice system must overcome.

10. Prison Back Tattoo

This tattoo on the back represents a moving story of imprisonment, hardship, and determination. The hands stand for the person’s desperate attempt to achieve freedom and the ongoing fight against authority and imprisonment. When placed on the back, it might represent a readiness to face and overcome hardship.

11. Prison Bars Tattoo

An abdominal tattoo of prison bars represents hardship, inner imprisonment, and the burden of past events. It acts as a visual reminder of the person being held captive within their environment and looking for the inspiration and freedom to break free of their prison.

12. Aztec Prison Tattoo

This tattoo features ancient Aztec symbolism with the contemporary setting of jail, representing a complex story of imprisonment, resilience, and cultural identity. It combines old symbols with modern themes of imprisonment and hardship to convey a deep sense of legacy, resilience, and rebellion.

13. Chicano Prison Tattoo

In Chicano prison culture, a tattoo of a criminal’s face on the arm represents respect, loyalty, and dedication to the gang’s code and values. This tattoo functions as a kind of identification, signifying an individual’s membership and position within the gang’s hierarchy. It may also represent the wearer’s bravery and strength.

14. Prison Tower Tattoo

This tattoo features a prison tower looming ominously against dark gray clouds. It represents alertness and a link to the world of prisons. It may also represent power, imprisonment, and the brutality of the criminal justice system.

15. Polish Prison Tattoo

This tattoo features a snake and a skull that symbolizes a narrative of danger and survival in the prison environment. The skull stands for death and the ever-present reminder of death, while the snake symbolizes growth and transformation. In Polish prison culture, these tattoos typically signify resilience and one’s journey toward a new sense of self as one survives in prison.

16. The Aryan Brotherhood

The Aryan Brotherhood (AB) is essentially a gang of Caucasian males who believe in the neo-Nazi ideology. They consider Hitler to be their hero and firmly espouse the cause of white supremacy. The Aryan brotherhood tattoo meanings are quite symbolic. They either consist of a swastika, ‘AB’ written in a gothic font, a Celtic knot, or the number 1488.

However, before you consider donning these cool prison tattoos, you need to remember that they have the capability of turning you into an easily identifiable prey for a number of Mexican and African-American gangs.

17. Teardrop Tattoos

Teardrop tattoos are one of the most common types of prison tattoos worn by a plethora of inmates around the world. They are portrayed as a small drop of tear that usually appears to be falling from the eye. The meaning of this widely recognized tattoo varies from one place to another.

In some prisons, a teardrop tattoo can simply imply that a person has lost a loved one, while in other prisons, it can be interpreted as a symbol of long-standing revenge. Additionally, a teardrop tattoo can also depict a murder conviction, a lengthy sentence, or a personal loss.

Although the meaning of the teardrop tattoo is highly individualistic and related to the particular histories of their wearers, the number of tears can refer to – the number of loved ones lost, the number of murders committed, or the number of years served.

Quick Tip

There is written evidence for teardrop tattoo design, which came in the 1970s.

18. Prison Gun Tattoos

Guns have largely come to be associated with the commission of heinous crimes, especially in America. As weapons, guns are dangerous, risky, and tough to handle. This unpredictability generates a sense of fascination, mystery, and charm, which has turned guns into popular prison tattoo choices.

Gun tattoos range from pistols and Sig Sauers to semi-automatics and rifles. Each one can be given a different look, and its meaning can depend on the convict’s personal history.

19. Blood Gang Tattoos

Various contemporary gangs tend to have their own identification marks. These marks don’t just reflect their ideology but also bind the members of that gang with a common thread. The Blood Gang – originating from the West Piru Street in Los Angeles (US) – has developed a similar tattooing culture.

The gang tattoos that their members adorn, generally consist of the alphabets MOB (Members Of Blood), the cipher 13/13, or the letters OYBBQ (which stands for ‘blood’). These tattoos can be worn on any part of the body, but they are usually done on the forearm.

20. Russian Prison Tattoos

Since the early 20th century, Russian prison tattoos have been popular in various parts of the world. These tattoos, which were initially used for branding prisoners, steadily transformed into an indicator of aggression and vigor.

People with Russian prison tattoos are generally respected and feared in various cultures. These tattoo designs traditionally range from barbed wires, chest crosses, and eight-pointed stars to Lenin’s images, one-eyed eagles, and spider webs.

21. Prison Break Tattoos

Attempting to break out of prison is considered to be an act of extreme bravery and defiance. However, prison break tattoo has absolutely nothing to do with convicts escaping prison. Instead, these tattoos originate from a highly popular TV series titled Prison Break!

In the show, the protagonist inks the prison’s blueprint on his body so that he can design a route to break out. Most prison break tattoos carry images, signs, and symbols from this widely loved series.

22. Black Guerrilla Family Tattoos

Black guerrilla family tattoos originated as an emblem of solidarity during the 1966 Civil Rights Movement. This was a time when the African-American citizens of the United States were fighting for equal rights and justice.

A variety of organizations, like the Black Liberation Army, the United Blood Nation, and the Black Vanguard, came out in support of this movement and began to sport tattoos that symbolized their ideology. The black guerrilla group normally wears tattoos that have the number 276 inscribed within them.

23. Mexican Mafia Tattoos

The Mexican mafia is mainly active in California. This mafia is divided into two groups – the Surenos and the Nortenos – with each of them sporting a distinctive tattoo design.

The Surenos, for instance, wear tattoos that have the number 13 in Roman or Aztec numerals carved in them. On the other hand, the Nortenos wear tattoos that have the number 14 etched out in Arabic. The tattoos adorned by both of these groups also incorporate the initials MS and tres puntos (three dots).

24. Gang Tattoos

Most prisons across the world are run by a multitude of gangs. These gangs consist of hardened convicts who wear similar tattoos so that their loyalty and affiliation remain unquestioned.

Sporting these gang tattoos is essentially their way of ensuring survival and availing special privileges within the confines of a prison. Although different prison gangs wear different sets of tattoos, most of them are usually centered around a certain number, a specific image, or the infinity symbol.

25. Prison Face Tattoos

Like the name suggests, prison face tattoos are done on the face. They generally denote how hardcore a criminal is. The greater the number of tattoos on their face, the more the number of crimes they have committed.

Nonetheless, some inmates use prison face tattoos to showcase their identity or simply make a point. The designs of such tattoos largely range from skulls, teardrops, and crowns to names, totems, and numbers.

26. Playing Cards Tattoos

Playing cards tattoos, which originated from Russian prisons, have currently secured a space among the best prison tattoos in the world. For most inmates, a playing card tattoo symbolizes how their lives have been turned into a gamble and each passing day is dealing them a bad hand.

The prisoners are free to choose from any of the 52 cards of a standard deck. The specific card that they choose is often associated with how they see themselves, their criminal history, and their prospective future.

27. Black Gang Tattoos

Black gang tattoos are normally worn by members of the African-American community. These tattoos act as a symbol of unity and integration. Black gang tattoos also provide people of color with sufficient motivation to fight for their cause.

Even though most of these tattoos differ from one prison to another, they are inextricably linked by common figures, like chains, area codes, locks, keys, wild animals, guns, weapons, artillery, and knives. These tattoos function as a medium of communal identification and cohesion.

28. Racist Tattoos

At various points of time in the history of the world, racism has been the dominant narrative. From the shores of America and the cities of Europe to the deserts of Africa and the jungles of Asia – racist art has adapted to the cultures of different geographies.

This is why the racist prison tattoos today feature a plethora of designs like Celtic crosses and runic alphabets. These may either symbolize the neo-Nazis or the Ku Klux Klan or a white supremacist ideology.

29. American Prison Tattoos

American prison tattoos are comprised of numerous assorted designs and diverse styles. These tattoos are a reflection of the prisoner’s individual story and life history.

American prison tattoos also include the extensive body of art that has been developed by Native American gangs. These tattoos are marked by unique and indigenous designs, which include symbols that Native Americans hold sacred, like reptiles, birds, animals, and tribal wear.

30. Prison Wrists Tattoos

Wrist tattoos are a set of cool prison tattoos that are generally worn by inmates on their wrists. They may either narrate a story of the prisoner’s conviction, mention his total jail time, or carry a symbol that they identify with.

In fact, prison gangs often brand their members on the wrist. These tattoos include a wide range of artwork, such as a clock with no hands, a four-pointed star, a swastika, a hanging man, or a few dots.

31. Jail Time Tattoos

Convicts are mostly sentenced in accordance with the gravity of their crimes. If they have committed a felony, for example, their jail time would be a minimum of 1 year. However, if they have committed first-degree murder, their jail time could range from 15 years to life imprisonment.

Some inmates, especially the ones who are sentenced for the long haul, literally wear their jail time on their sleeve as a tattoo! These prison tattoos are chiefly crafted as numbers in Roman, Latin, Arabic, or English numerals and feature cell block designs as a way to represent their imprisonment.

32. Prison Cobweb Tattoos

Largely considered to be one of the best prison tattoos, cobweb tattoos are essentially a representation of lengthy prison sentences. Inmates who are sentenced to a long time in jail get cobwebs tattooed on their elbows or neck.

The web indicates that just like the spider catches its prey, they too have been caught and chained by the system. If you get this tattoo, make sure that your tattoo artist does not use bright colors. Instead, just stick to black and white to retain its authenticity as prison body art.

33. Five-Point Crown Tattoos

The five-point crown tattoo is unarguably the most famous body art in both North and South America. Thisprison tattoo is an integral part of Hispanic culture and is normally worn by the members of the Latin Kings gang. Sporting this tattoo enhances your rank and influence in the Latin society. immediately.

A five-point crown is indicative of loyalty, allegiance, and protection. It is mainly done on the neck, but some gang members also shave their heads and use their scalp as a canvas for this tattoo.

34. Three Dots Prison Tattoos

Three dots tattoos are a distinctive type of prison tattoo that can be interpreted in numerous ways. For one, this symbol is closely associated with the Mexican mafia and may be considered a mark of identification for the LA-based Surenos gang.

On the other hand, this tattoo may simply represent the Spanish concept of mi vida loca or “my crazy life.” At times, three dots are also said to be an indicator of pure religious belief as they may symbolize the Christian holy trinity.

Quick Tip

The three-dot tattoo design is typically found around the eyes or on the hands.

35. EWMN Prison Tattoos

EWMN is an acronym for “evil, wicked, mean and nasty.” By donning such criminal tattoos, convicts try to own their crime. In other words, they wear their presumed character on their bodies to strengthen people’s beliefs about them.

Apart from EWMN, any other abbreviation can also be used for the same purpose. These prison tattoos are mostly done on a prisoner’s knuckles.

36. Crown And Rings Tattoos

Tracing its roots to 17th century Ireland, a crown and rings tattoo (also called a crown ring tattoo), is basically a modification of the traditional Claddagh ring. In prison, it is either worn by members of the same gang or a group of inmates who have developed a close-knit bond.

This prison tattoo represents loyalty (crown), love (heart), and friendship (hands). It is usually done on the ring finger, though any other finger can also be used to portray a crown ring tattoo.

37. Scary Prison Tattoos

Although prison tattoosmay adopt different forms, many of them tend to get a little scary. A skull, for example, can give off a terribly dangerous look when worn on the forehead.

Similarly, an “eye for an eye” tattoo is done by shadowing the eye from all corners to lend it a spine-chilling look. Some inmates even cover their entire faces with tattoo ink just so that they can appear formidable, fearsome, and diabolical.

38. Cool Prison Tattoos

A number of prison tattoos are actually a treasure trove of beautiful and unusual forms of convict art. They transcend the barriers of language, culture, geographies, and countries to produce cool prison tattoos that are meaningful and eloquent.

These designs include wonderful features like Gott Mitt Uns (God be with us), roses, years, hearts, eyes, and instruments of historical significance.

39. Old-School Prison Tattoos

A number of tattoo designs have cropped up in recent times, but the charm ofold-school prison tattoosremains intact. These tattoos, which belong to the vintage era, are generally a reflection of the convict’s choice of time.

For instance, if a prisoner is wearing a swastika, it signifies that he supports the Nazi cause from the 1930s. Similarly, if he is wearing a closed fist, it means that he believes in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

40. Irish Prison Tattoos

Prison ink in Ireland is quite well-known for its simplicity and relevance. Their common designs bind prisoners throughout the country into a singular chain.

These tattoos normally include uncomplicated designs like shamrock flowers, leaf clovers, and four dots. These symbols are said to symbolize good luck, prosperity, and happiness.

41. 3D Prison Tattoos

In some prisons, 3D prison tattoos are extensively used by fusing two different pictures together. This lends an additional dimension to a normal tattoo!

3D tattoos focus on a person’s stereoscopic vision, thus enhancing their depth of perception. For example, you can fuse the image of Lenin with an eight-pointed star to lend it a 3D effect.

42. Tribal Prison Tattoos

The prison tattoo designs that carry tribal symbology have been an object of fascination for prisoners around the world. Not only are these tattoos highly artistic, but they also are a great cultural and ritualistic expression.

They usually make use of Aztec art, Apache totems, Inca symbols, or Mapuche patterns. Tribal tattoos vary geographically, regionally, and racially. Sporting them implies that a convict belongs to or identifies with a specific tribe.

Infographic: 8 Prison Tattoo Designs And Their Meanings

Prison tattoos are a symbol of the complex history of someone who has seen life bars. They usually narrate the stories of prison inmates, the crimes they have committed, and gang names, but they can also be about their personal struggles or family life. Check out the infographic below to find out more about the most popular prison tattoo designs.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a prison star tattoo mean?

A prison star tattoo can mean different things for different people. While it may indicate hope, ambition and success for some, it can have religious (Jews), professional (fishermen), or nationalist (Navy) significance for others. However, in all cases, it portrays a sense of individuality and uniqueness.

What does a shamrock tattoo mean in prison?

In American prisons, the three-leaved clover or shamrock tattoo is usually worn by the members of the Aryan Brotherhood. It symbolizes their neo-Nazi ideology coupled with their idea of white supremacy. Nonetheless, in Irish prisons, it simply stands for the trio of hope, faith, and love.

What does a scorpion tattoo mean in prison?

A scorpion tattoo in prison depicts fear and intimidation. The convict who wears it considers himself to be as diabolical as the grim reaper. Sporting a scorpion, therefore, represents his strength, loyalty, and power.

What does a swallow prison tattoo mean?

A swallow prison tattoo is usually done when one is done serving jail time, symbolizing freedom.

What does a diamond tattoo mean in prison?

The diamond tattoo, specifically a suite of diamonds on playing cards, popular in Russian prisons symbolizes stool pigeons and informants. It is likely that this tattoo was done by force to mark informants.

Illustration: Best Prison Tattoo Designs With Meanings

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Discover the intriguing meaning behind the crescent ring prison tattoo in Russia. This informative video explores the symbolism and cultural significance of this uniquely symbolic body art. Check it out!

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Terisa GreenTattoo Researcher

Terisa Green, PhD, is a tattoo researcher with over 20 years of experience and the author of The Tattoo Encyclopedia: A Guide to Choosing Your Tattoo and Ink: The Not-Just-Skin-Deep Guide to Getting A Tattoo. She undertook a tattoo apprenticeship at Sunset Strip Tattoo in Hollywood and learned about all the aspects of tattoos - from mixing pigments to customer care.

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