All About the Gangster Tattoos

All About the Gangster Tattoos

Gangster and prison tattoos are very popular recently. You will see lots of different types of gangster tattoos inked on the gangster's bodies as you walk along the street.

Among the members of gangs, the gangster tattoo is considered as the symbol of strong bond. It's the fact that gang members are devoted to their fellows even more than their immediate family members. Gangster tattoos symbolize the same devotion and loyalty towards the gang.

On the other hand, prison tattoos came to light after Japanese started use of them in order to differentiate prisoners from general public after they were freed. Prison tattoo is also frequently used by groups such as bikers, gypsies, bandits, and circus artists.

However, more and more people considered prison and gangster tattoos as nuisances nowadays. Despite growing popularity and more and more people are having tattoos, there are certain tattoos such as gangster tattoos and prison tattoos that are considered disgraceful.

In comparison to other tattoos, a prison tattoo or a gangster tattoo is far more eye-catching. Usually people wear these tattoos on more visible body parts such as faces, hands, and necks. Most of people who get these tattoos use them in order to convey their anguish against societies' restrictions. Unlike other tattoos that are usually worn as accessories, the prison and the gangster tattoo is used as an expression of pride.

Gangs distinguish their members by the help of the gangster tattoo. These tattoos are also used as status symbol. On the other hand, a prison tattoo is used to identify prisoners. Most of prisoners use them in order to survive in prison culture. As they symbolize their toughness. That's why people avoid arguments and fighting with a person who flaunts prison or gangster tattoos.

How a gangster tattoo or a prison tattoo does differ from other tattoos? Some of the gangster tattoo design even adds the Pachuco cross into their main design. Hispanic gangs often use this tattoo. There are three small dots on it. Most of the gang members have gangster tattoos on their hands. In its design you can see 'mi vida loco' in Spanish that means "my crazy life". These three dots are most frequently used by Southeast Asian gang members. The three dots mean "I care for nothing".

Unlike in the past, nowadays tattoos are used as an art. In today's world, having a gangster tattoo is not a symbol of bad characters anymore. These are used for fun and style as well. So, you need not to afraid with people who have a gangster or prison tattoos. They could be as acceptable as other people.

Find out more the unknown gangster tattoos at this greatest tattoo resource.

Mexican Prison Tattoos

Russian Prison Tattoos - The Brutal Truth

Russian Prison Tattoos

Most people associate Russian Mafia Tattoos with David Cronenberg's award winning film "Eastern Promises" in which Viggo Mortensen portrayed an ex-con turned driver for a Russian Mafia Boss, who works his way up the chain of command only to find out there's even more corruption and deception than what he experienced within the prison walls.

His story merely skims the surface...

In reality, the history behind Russia's criminal underground was spawned from a generation of men who, due to the economical collapse of the Soviet Union, were left with nothing - turning to crime for a means of survival. As communism fell and the safety net was removed, many of the desperate ended up in Russian prison camp system, also known as the Soviet gulag, which to this day is known as one of the most infamous and hellish prison systems in history. It was within these camps that a new breed of professional criminal was born. A criminal network based on discipline, tradition and more importantly, rank.

Russian Mafia Tattoos are more than a statement...

As these networks of seasoned Russian criminals began to establish themselves from both sides of the prison walls, they would tattoo religious and neo-nazi symbols all over their bodies as a form of recognition amongst their fellow peers, but also as a means of living with their sins. It was not unheard of for Russian Mafia Tattoos to be forcefully inked on an individual whom was deemed to be untrustworthy, or an individual who was a child molester or rapist - which went against the strong religious undertones of that time.

Common symbols and their meanings...

To the naked eye most of these tattoos represent religious imagery, such as cathedrals or monasteries, but as the Russian Mafia began to migrate to New York, Philadelphia, and Florida between the 1970's and 1990's, the American authorities and secret services began to decipher the code which lies beneath these markings of worship. They realized that not only was there a system behind Russian Mafia Tattoos, but these criminals would literally use these symbols as a business card to whom the other was, and more importantly, what sins they've committed.

Cathedral or Church - Depending on the number of towers a particular tattoo has, it usually refers to the number of years, or amount of times that individual has been incarcerated.

Cobweb - Usually designated for someone who has committed murder.

Cat or Cats - If there is a tattoo of a single cat, this means that the individual was a thief before being imprisoned. If there are multiple cats this means that the individual was part of a gang of thieves.

Stars - This seems to be the most recognized tattoo in the mainstream media. If the owner has stars on each of his knees, this mean's he will never bow down or never be brought to his knees. Stars on the shoulders are usually awarded when a particular individual has reached a criminal status or high ranking within the network - such as a Captain. Different types of stars mean different things as well.

What's even more frightening, and sad, is that in modern day Russia it is estimated that 70% of the upper echelon of society, politics and law enforcement is controlled by the Russian Mafia families and criminal networks. It is said that the same percentage of banks are also ran by the mob in Russia. The fall of communism turned a once powerful and formidable competitor into a country so corrupt that it's highest offices are products of crime. It's common amongst society for people to associate criminal organizations with the Italian Mafia, but the reality is that if you ask anyone who knows anything on this topic they will tell you that compared to the Russian Mafia, Italian crime families are like pre-school - there is no comparison.

Elijah Vieau is a Musician, Blogger, and Visual Artist with a passion for Tattoos and Tattoo culture.

Stop by RussianMafiaTattoos.com to find out more behind this brutal culture of criminal branding. Also be sure to watch the free clip of Alix Lambert's "The Mark of Cain" documentary which gets real testament from prisoners who live by these Russian Mafia Tattoos.