# Of prisons and tattoos **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 27, 2017, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245 "2017-07-27T06:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/1 "2017-07-27T06:19:22Z")
I’ve wondered about this before, but this thread was directly inspired by this post: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20373193&postcount=9](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20373193&postcount=9) It seems to be widely known that prisoners are not allowed to get tattoos while in prison. Why do officials care? It would seem be less dangerous than smoking (which if the prison movies I’ve seen are correct) is allowed. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/2 "2017-07-27T10:10:45Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > It seems to be widely known that prisoners are not allowed to get tattoos while in prison. Why do officials care? I imagine because it’s strongly linked to prison gangs, and they don’t like those. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/3 "2017-07-27T13:07:59Z")
Because prison tattoos are a great way to spread hepatitis and other diseases. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/4 "2017-07-27T18:06:21Z")
Its also a way of changing identification marks, tattoos are often used a quick means of recognising an individual, and also any exposed tattoos might well be checked out to see if they came up in any unsolved crime - wouldn’t want to lose potential evidence. but mainly its gang culture. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/5 "2017-07-27T18:38:17Z")
It’s a health hazard. It’s often related to gang activity. Although I’ll admit gang activity can occur with or without tattoos. Prohibiting tattoos is an effort at rehabilitation. Having a bunch of prison tattoos is not going to help you rejoin mainstream society when you leave prison. Some prisoners are coerced into getting tattoos to mark them as “property”. Banning tattoos in general is a way of trying to stop coercive tattooing. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/6 "2017-07-27T18:40:43Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > It would seem be less dangerous than smoking (which if the prison movies I’ve seen are correct) is allowed. On a separate issue, smoking is not allowed inside a building in any New York prison. People can only smoke when they’re outdoors. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/7 "2017-07-28T01:33:06Z")
13% of my prison patients have Hepatitis C. That’s over 3000 inmates. And the rates of infection are going up. Many got it from prison tattoos, though far more got it from sharing needles for drugs. Cost for a course of treatment for Hep C is currently running us about $44K just for the drugs. So we are very anti tattooing being done in our prisons. Especially since it’s done with used diabetes syringes that often get employed on a few dozen folks, with dyes/colorings made from a variety of rather unwholesome substances. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/8 "2017-07-28T01:34:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > On a separate issue, smoking is not allowed inside a building in any New York prison. People can only smoke when they’re outdoors. Wisconsin prisons are all tobacco-free, for inmates and for staff. Staff caught with tobacco can be disciplined, including being fired for repeat offenses. Tobacco is _contraband_ in our system. And since we went tobacco free, we saw a tremendous drop in the rate of severe asthma attacks requiring trips out to the local ER. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/9 "2017-07-28T10:21:18Z")
Our prisons have been going baccy free, the number of fires overall has dropped by over 80% ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/10 "2017-07-28T10:22:19Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > 13% of my prison patients have Hepatitis C. That’s over 3000 inmates. And the rates of infection are going up. Many got it from prison tattoos, though far more got it from sharing needles for drugs. > > Cost for a course of treatment for Hep C is currently running us about $44K just for the drugs. > > So we are very anti tattooing being done in our prisons. Especially since it’s done with used diabetes syringes that often get employed on a few dozen folks, with dyes/colorings made from a variety of rather unwholesome substances. If the health thing was the only concern, wouldn’t the more effective solution be to make available, under supervision of course, proper, safe tattoo equipment and dyes? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/11 "2017-07-28T15:23:38Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > If the health thing was the only concern, wouldn’t the more effective solution be to make available, under supervision of course, proper, safe tattoo equipment and dyes? Establishing licensed and routinely inspected and monitored tattoo parlors inside of prison institutions is low on the list of priorities for most Departments of Correction, especially since any financial/public health benefit from such an action is quite far from proven. Most US prisons struggle to find adequate room to house all inmates safely, not to mention providing them with medically necessary treatments and medications. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/12 "2017-07-28T15:38:39Z")
To add yet another reason, any equipment that could be used for tattooing could also be used as an improvised weapon, and prisons are understandably reluctant to allow prisoners to have those, too. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/13 "2017-07-28T16:47:32Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > If the health thing was the only concern, wouldn’t the more effective solution be to make available, under supervision of course, proper, safe tattoo equipment and dyes? As I pointed out, health is not the only concern. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/14 "2017-07-29T02:07:01Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > If the health thing was the only concern, wouldn’t the more effective solution be to make available, under supervision of course, proper, safe tattoo equipment and dyes? I’ve not spent time inside, but my friends on both sides agree that prisons are badly run, and no-one cares. For the prisoners, it’s like going to a shop where _no one cares if you are pleased or if you buy anything_, and for the staff, – it’s like working in that shop --. Out of all the things that could be done, providing supervised tatoo facilities never got mentioned by any of them. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/15 "2017-07-29T03:34:19Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > I’ve not spent time inside, but my friends on both sides agree that prisons are badly run, and no-one cares. I would dispute that. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/16 "2017-07-29T03:53:54Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > I’ve not spent time inside, but my friends on both sides agree that prisons are badly run, and no-one cares > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I would dispute that. Are you aware that he’s in Australia and presumably is talking about prisons there? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/17 "2017-07-29T04:31:54Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > 13% of my prison patients have Hepatitis C. That’s over 3000 inmates. And the rates of infection are going up. Many got it from prison tattoos, though far more got it from sharing needles for drugs. > > Cost for a course of treatment for Hep C is currently running us about $44K just for the drugs. > > So we are very anti tattooing being done in our prisons. Especially since it’s done with used diabetes syringes that often get employed on a few dozen folks, with dyes/colorings made from a variety of rather unwholesome substances. Looked at from this perspective I can see the logic. I’m not convinced (or that knowledgeable, actually) about the gang angle. There are gangs in prison and officials know it. In fact I’ve seen several documentaries where part of the entrance procedure was to choose your gang. So if they are in some small way conceding to gang activity it doesn’t seem like tattoos would be a concern (from that perspective at least). ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/18 "2017-07-29T11:23:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I would dispute that. Which part? Badly run, or no-one cares? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/19 "2017-07-29T16:39:57Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Are you aware that he’s in Australia and presumably is talking about prisons there? There’s nothing in his post to indicate that. > [@Melbourne](#): > > Which part? Badly run, or no-one cares? Both. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245/20 "2017-07-29T16:44:07Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > \*\*There’s nothing in his post to indicate that. > \*\* > > Both. The username hints at it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-prisons-and-tattoos/792245.md?page=2)