Criminal tattoos are in fashion among gang members and criminals. Through
tattoos marked over their bodies, criminals show their allegiance to their
respective gangs. It is interesting to note that many times criminal tattoos
record the wearer's personal skills, specialties, accomplishments and
convictions. Certain Criminal tattoos have developed recognized as coded
meanings. Right from Russian, US, Vietnam, Thailand, and so on criminal tattoos
have an intricate system of symbols containing information about the person
having that tattoo. Be it a simple rose or a spade or a skull, each of the
criminal tattoo stands for something unique. To know more about the types of
criminal tattoo existing in various countries, browse through the following
lines.
Criminal Tattoos In Various Countries
Britain and Ireland
One of the most common tattoos integrated in the prisons of United Kingdom is
A.C.A.B. A short form, the letters usually impressed in a manner that a letter
features in between the knuckle and first joint of each finger. A.C.A.B. either
stand for "All Coppers Are Bastards", or "Always Carry A Bible", depending on,
who is asking and whether the bearer is trying to make a good impression. It was
in the 1970 that the British Oi! Punk band popularized the phrase further, with
a song based on the same. A similar phrase A.P.A.B., meaning "All Pigs Are
Bastards" was also in vogue, and was primarily used as a derogatory slang term
for police officer. Though formerly used, criminals were seen to flaunt a dot on
the left cheekbone, a sign of completing a sentence at Borstal, which was
considered a status symbol. Another criminal tattoo was a "Borstal Glove" on the
back of the hand.
North America
Tattoos with three dots in the form of a triangle, found in between the thumb
and forefinger, was one of the most prevalent generic tattoo in North America.
The art usually stood for "mi vida loca" ("my crazy life"), or the three major
connections of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The tattoo may or may not
have a direct connection with the gangs. A similar type was adopted by the
Vietnamese teenagers, under the interpretation of "tôi không c?n ǵ c?", meaning
"I don't need nothing". Another variety was a teardrop at one of the eyes of the
wearer. The tattoo was indicative of the fact that the wearer has killed
someone, or a friend of theirs was killed in prison. Symbols of aggression such
as skulls, tattoos advertising a particular skill, or religious imagery, tattoos
of a clock with no hands symbolical of phrase "until the end of time" (life
sentence) are some of the other criminal tattoos found.
Russia
Russian criminal tattoos are highly expressive and when clearly studied, can
reflect much about the personality of a person. Apart from the tattoos being
symbolical, the place on which it is impressed can carry a lot of meaning as
well. You would be surprised to know that flaunting a false tattoo is punishable
by death in the criminal underworld. Distinctive by bluish shade, the tattoo is
usually blurred, because of the lack of instruments to draw fine lines.
Additionally, tattoos were also used to stigmatize and penalize individuals,
within the criminal society. Forehead tattoos are forced to humiliate the wearer
and also caution people about him/her. In Russia, tattoos that are comprised of
political or anti-authoritarian statements are tagged as 'grins' and are usually
seen on the stomach region. The four suits of Russian criminal tattoo are -
spades (that signify "suit of thieves"), clubs (that stands for a "criminal"
suit that represents a sword), diamonds meaning (the "chummy suit" i.e. stool
pigeons and informers, this suit is usually forcibly applied) and hearts
indicative of a sexual symbol.
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