Are there different tattoo designs for gangs?
There are still tattoo designs that are specific to the different ethnic gangs that operate in the major cities. Gang and prison tattoos have more in common with traditional tribal tattoos than they do with modern decorative body art: they are designed to mark an individual as a member of a group, as well as being an indication of status.
What do Japanese gang tattoos mean?
Japanese gang tattoos (which usually identify members of the Yakuza, or Japanese mafia) take the form of simple black rings around the arm – one ring for each major crime a gang member has committed. The similarity with tribal tattooing is quite strong – there, too, tribe members got additional tattoos in recognition of deeds they had done.
What are Hispanic and Mexican gang tattoos?
Hispanic and Mexican gang tattoos vary a lot, because they relate to the numerous specific gangs. One recurring image is a five-pointed crown; this is often found on the upper arm. Alternatively, a small five pointed star can be found on the hand, between the thumb and first finger.
What do the letters “ALKN” tattoos on gang members mean?
The stories these designs tell are fascinating. The Latin Kings are a Hispanic gang based out of Chicago. Their full title is Almighty Latin Kings Nation, so it is very common to see the letters “ALKN” tattooed somewhere on a gang member’s body. Their most famous symbol is likely the five-point crown, which often appears as a tattoo.
Can you identify someone by their tattoos?
In recent research funded by the FBI, NIST identified several specific uses for tattoo recognition technology by law enforcement. These include identifying a person by their tattoos, as well as identifying a suspect whose tattoos are partially caught on cameras.
What does a 100 tattoo mean?
100% – This is an expression of an individual's pure Aryan or white roots. It is common among white supremacists. It can be a tattoo or used as a saying between members.
What is a gang tattoo called?
Criminal tattoos are a type of tattoos associated with criminals to show gang membership and record the wearer's personal history—such as their skills, specialties, accomplishments, incarceration, world view and/or means of personal expression.
What are gang related tattoos?
Gang tattoos mark a person as part of a street gang or a prison gang; they symbolize membership and represent the wearer's beliefs. Sometimes they also record acts of violence or even murder. Every gang has its own set of tattoos and markings.
What does a 3% tattoo mean?
The law center's website says the Three Percenters moniker refers to the “dubious” claim that only 3 percent of American colonists fought the British during the Revolutionary War.
What does a 44 tattoo mean?
The 14th letter of the alphabet is "N," the 12th letter is "L," and the 18th letter is "R." Hence 44 is a way of writing NLR. NLR members can be extremely hazardous to law enforcement officers.
What gang is 777?
777 Tattoo and Gang Culture This is called “the three sevens” or a three-bladed swastika and it's a tattoo used to identify as a member of a white supremacist group.
What does a 7 and a 2 tattoo mean?
So the interpretation of it is, imo, that if you see this tattoo you see a 7-2 in your hands, meaning that by meeting this person you just got dealt the worst possible hand by them. You are best off never meeting them. Follow this answer to receive notifications.
What does the tattoo 22 mean?
He got the tattoo on his neck a year ago, inking the number of veterans who reportedly commit suicide each day to his neck. It was that “22” on his neck that got the U.S. Marine veteran kicked out of Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row bar in Gilbert this week.
What do dots on fingers mean?
One of the simplest and most popular finger tattoo designs is dots. While they are understated, dot tattoos also carry a lot of meaning and significance. A single dot often represents a 'full stop' – the end of one phase and the start of another. A row of three dots is another popular version of this tattoo.
What does the number 11 tattoo mean?
For many, the number 11 11 is associated with the presence of spiritual beings. When you glimpse this number by chance, it can be an indication that your guardian angel or other spirit presence is nearby.
What does a 3 point crown tattoo mean?
Some people might also choose a crown tattoo because of its religious connotations. For example, the Catholic Church uses a three point crown as a symbol of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Ghost. This type of tattoo can be a powerful statement about your faith and beliefs.
Why are gang tattoos becoming mainstream?
Gangsta tattoos are getting mainstream nowadays, because they are idealized and popularized by rappers. When gang or ghetto tattoos are taken out of their context (the gang) they are not the real thing anymore.
What does it mean when a gang member has a tear tattoo?
The meaning of the tears is not always the same though and has evolved over the years: In the US, most commonly a tear tattoo means that the wearer has killed someone.
Why do tattoos have fuzzy lines?
Most gang and prison tattoos have fuzzy, unsteady lines compared to those of professional tattoos. That's because they are done with self made tattoo guns and ink. The ink used in Russian prisons for example was made with melted shoe soles, mixed with urine and blood.
What is a tattoo in a Russian prison?
Russian prison tattoos: tattooing was and is a very common practice among Russian inmates. Just like gang tattoos, they form a secret language that pictures all kinds of information about the wearer, such as hierarchy, commited crimes, etc. Here are some examples: Cats: a cat tattoo means that the inmate's former career is thievery.
What are the tattoos of the Yakuza?
Usually though, tattoos of Yakuza members are very elaborate and detailed, going from sleeve to full body tattoos. Hispanic and Mexican gang tattoos vary a lot, because they relate to the numerous specific gangs. One recurring image is a five-pointed crown; this is often found on the upper arm.
What does a praying hand tattoo mean?
The common praying hands tattoo that you see often signifies ‘praying to God for forgiveness’ for one’s deeds.
What do numbers mean in a gang?
Numbers and letters are important gang symbols. They indicate for example what status a member has in the group or what a prisoner is in for. Here are some examples of numbers and their meaning used by various gangs: 7: symbol for the 7th letter of the alphabet "G", stands for God or Gangster.
What is the most notorious gang in the world?
Some call the Mara Salvatrucha the most notorious gang in the world. They are extremely violent, own their own prison, and have a number of tattoos. The most obvious tattoos are a combination of MS and the number 13. “Everything has to add up to 13.
Where did the 18th Street Gang originate?
The 18th Street Gang, also known as Barrio 18, originated in Mexico but grew to prominence in Los Angeles. The tattoos for the 18th street gang are pretty straightforward: they all have to add up to 18 somehow. Members may also have three sixes tattooed on them, because three times six equals eighteen.
What does the 211 on a crip mean?
For example, the numbers 211 on a Crip stand for “Blood Killer.”. The two represents the “B” in the alphabet, and the 11 represents “K.”. Similarly, the numbers “3 18 9 16” spell out "CRIP.".
What does the word "mob" mean in Blood?
Bloods will often have the letters MOB - standing for "Member of Blood" - tattooed somewhere on their body. A dog paw is also a common tattoo among these gang members, potentially accompanied by the word “Dawg.”. The word "Piru" comes from the original Blood gang, called the "Compton Pirus.".
What does the noose on the KKK tattoo mean?
Ku Klux Klan. This tattoo from the Klu Klux Klan goes back to the '20s. The noose is meant to represent all the lynching that took place during that time. The Ku Klux Klan isn’t necessarily a gang, but this tattoo is gaining popularity among the KKK and other white supremacist gangs.
What does the death's head tattoo mean?
The " death's head " represents the gang, while the rhombus-shaped “1%” tattoo signifies that the Hell’s Angel is a rebel. It's a direct reference to the American Motorcyclist Association, which claims that while most motorcyclists are decent people, one percent of them are outlaws.
What does the letter AB mean in the Aryan Brotherhood?
The letters inside a heart crossed with swords means that the gang member did time.