Prison Tattoos

Shows like 'Prison break' and "Orange is the new black"has generated a fascination for the tattoos. These prison tattoos are no more the domain of the incarcerated members, even the regular plebians have started using them without being aware of their significance. Here we bring you 15 of the wildly popular prison tattoos and the significant meaning behind each one of them.

1. A.C.A.B

A.C.A.B stands for All Cops Are Bastards. This is commonly found inked on the bodies of the British prisoners. The acronym was seen by a Newcastle journalist on the walls of a prison wall in 1970's. The 4-Skins, a British punk band popularized the acronym with their song of the same name in 1980's. The acronym is commonly rendered one letter per finger.

Some

Cross on the Chest

During the 20th century, there was a system of the tattoo being used to identify and differentiate a person's criminal position and career within the Russian prison and criminal communities.

In the Russian Tattoo hierarchy, a Cross on the chest signifies a 'Prince of Thieves', the highest rank among the criminal community. This is usually seen adorning the higher-ups in the mob. A spider with face down suggests that the person has left his criminal past behind. Skull indicates a murderer. Stars imply authority, if inked on shoulders or knees, it means, 'I bow to no one'. A tattoo of eagle represents a senior authority figure but if the eagle is carrying something, then it denotes a rapist. (source)

3. EWMN

EWMN is not a code word but stands for 'Evil, Wicked, Mean, Nasty.' They do not indicate any allegiance to gangs both within or outside the prison. It simply denotes a person's disposition. The tattoo is generally inked on their

This tattoo can be obtained by using the basic tool like a pencil or a sewing needle or any sharp objects. Most often inmates do it themselves using whatever sharp objects are available at that moment. (source)

12. The Five-Point Crown

The crown tattoo may look stylish and elegant on the wearer but it is a prison tattoo. The five points of the crown are the symbol of the Latin kings gang. The Latin Kings gang originated in 1940's and are one of the biggest Hispanic gang both in and out of the prison. The five points in the crown indicate their affiliation towards the People Nation Gang, which is represented by number 5.

The crown tattoo is most often accompanied by the letters ALKN which means Almighty Latin Kings Nation! (source)

13. Teardrop Tattoo

Teardrop tattoo is one of the widely recognized tattoos across the world. The tattoo is placed underneath the eye. The tattoo can mean different things to different people based on their location and culture. It can mean that the wearer has killed someone or has spent time in prison. It signifies that the wearer was raped in prison or acknowledges the loss of a family or a gang member. Sometimes the teardrop is empty suggesting an attempted murder or seeking