Criminal tattoos are in fashion among gang members
and criminals. Through tattoos marked over their bodies, criminals show
their allegiance to their respective gangs. It is interesting to note
that many times criminal tattoos record the wearer's personal skills,
specialties, accomplishments and convictions. Certain Criminal tattoos
have developed recognized coded meanings.
In Japan (between 300-600AD), tattoos came to be associated with
criminals as tattoo symbols were put on criminals as mark of punishment.
The stigma attached with tattoos forced the Japan government to ban
tattoos during the Meiji restoration. Still, tattoos have retained the
old image of criminality in Japan. Elaborate body tattoos worn by Yakuza
members is an interesting example of criminal tattoos. In ancient Rome
also they followed the same pattern by tattooing slaves with slogans
such as "I am a slave who has run away from his master".
Criminal tattoos are in vogue in Middle East countries as well. Such
criminal tattoos are in fashion in countries like the US, Russia,
Vietnam, Thailand etc. and are associated with prison gangs, mafia and
criminals. These criminal tattoos carry symbols or slogans like "my
crazy life" and "I care for nothing". Russian criminal
tattoos have an intricate system of symbols containing information about
the person having that tattoo. The Russian criminal tattoos also carry
meaning of the area of the body on which they are placed. For example,
if a new member is initiated into the gang, the tattoo (rose design) is
usually placed on the chest. Some common criminal tattoos are spades,
clubs, diamonds, hearts, grins, snakes, tigers, cats, skulls etc. All
these criminal tattoos have some special significance.
