However, the beginning of tattoos being linked with offenders is a far outcry from the style statement it is making today. For a long time tattoos were used as a means to identify criminals. With one look the person could easily be identified as an offender, at times even the person's crime would be known by just looking at the tattoo. In Germany during the Nazi reign, tattoos were used amongst the arrested Jews.



Today, however, the prisoners use tattoos to show their link to a particular gang or to show their solidarity amongst a few other prisoners. It can also be to make them a little more daunting. The tattoo gun is prohibited inside the prison but this is hardly a hurdle for those who know how to find a loophole. It is very easy to make a tattoo gun with things easily available inside the prison such as needles, shavers and the like. All one needs is a motor and you are in business.

As it is difficult to get ink inside the prison most of the prison tattoo design would be made in either black or blue. Ink is made in a crude fashion by melting rubber or candles. This is then mixed with water and used. In case a motor is not available the whole process becomes very slow as compared to a tattoo gun. But in the absence of a motor, the tattooing process is very quiet as it should be in a prison.

If some prisoner is not part of a gang, chances are he would be part of one before he comes out of the place. Gangs give a person a feeling of brotherhood that they share with other gang members. The police give special attention to the prison style tattoo as this helps in identification of criminals at a later date. They can also be identified to a particular gang. In a nutshell, tattoos play a major part in crime solving.

With the popularity of tattoos today a prison style tattoo is being flaunted by even those who have never spent a day behind bars. A prison tattoo design done in any color other that black or blue is definitely not an original one. A prison tattoo design is very big and bold, made to make a statement. If one wants to get a prison style tattoo it is important that a proper study be done or else you might send out a message which you do not intend doing. The "swastika" is probably the most popular among these tattoos.

The lifestyle of prisoners is one major concern as irresponsible sexual behavior and drug abuse is a major part of their lives. Such people are at high risk to be infected with diseases such as AIDS. Therefore, one must be careful while getting a prison tattoo design made as it is a means for spreading diseases. An infected needle can easily do this as it penetrates into the skin. Tattooing should be done only in well-respected places where hygiene is given top priority.