Tattoos+Prison= Hepatitis & Death

                                                      December 25, 2012 Merry Christmas

                                                      mailto:lewis1946@cox.net

　

   I feel so bad for this young man, and not only because I care a lot for him, but also know him as a family member. But, as everyone can see the deed is done and not much more can be said but to learn to live with it. From the yellowish skin your already can see what is a telling point of most convicts as I am sure that this young man calls himself. After all even if this old man is told that never again will I do anything to get myself locked up again. Then here comes all those dear friends that never gave a damn how or where he was and all of a sudden there back in his life and who is going to pay the price for the play time. None other than the young man that look like the following.

Maybe one day as he gets older he will go as society states straight and settle down for a good job. Nope, after so many times even with those that are related and love him dearly as a son and those so called good friends seem to have the over all control over any family member.

Parole is not easy by any means, in fact harder on a guy as above than the normal so called citizen seeking work. Many employers won't even accept anyone from jail let alone prison, so job getting is even less for this type of person. There forced into making their own way and living and many do tats for much cheaper than a licensed tat parlor. The difference is that your assured of clean use and the only one with the use of that needle. In prison so many people use the same needle even with buring the tip as to kill germs and so called other bullshit.

I lost one son by such a means and maybe from use of drugs instead of tats, but still passed away from Hepatitis.

Tattoos have always been big in prisons across the world because they represent a form of rebellion. Tattoos are a way of broadcasting to the prison administration that, "hey, you might be able to control where you house my body, but you can’t dictate what the hell I put on it".

That’s just one of several reasons. Another more honorable reason is a prisoner’s passion for art. Having quality tattoo skills in prison is a blessing since tattooing is a way of earning funds behind bars. Although slinging ink is against prison policy, seasoned tattoo artists stand a greater chance in making money than say the untalented penitentiary clown selling drugs behind the scene. In fact incarcerated tattoo artists are much smarter than the average bear and earn the respect of correctional officers who often view tattoo felons as humble and talented. Unlike most penitentiary predators that entertain their small brains with reckless gossip, habitual lies and gang related drama, a true tattoo artist occupies his or her mind with skin and art.

The money a convict makes while slinging ink is well earned. Nothing is free in prison as most people may assume. Basic necessities such as toothpaste and shampoo cost money and if a prisoner doesn't have family or friends assisting him with funds, he's probably going to wear down the enamel on his teeth with state issued baking soda.

Not only is tattooing in prison a complicated art, but a deadly one as well. HIV, Hepatitis C and other nasty diseases are always a major factor when handling the blood of an incarcerated stranger. That’s why many convicted tattoo artists conform to the laws of sterilization.

Scoring chemicals such as powdered bleach and latex gloves in prison is a challenge but isn’t impossible, especially if the artist maintains a good relationship with both officers and convicts alike. Tattooing in prison is all about connections and the last thing a true artist wants to do is burn his bridges. One, an artist must know the right trusties who are able to smuggle in basic tattoo necessities and two, hope that officers let them slide if caught slinging ink or with tattoo contraband.

Building a good tattoo gun is another issue any artist interested in going into the tattoo business in prison must master. Just as big brained scientists have advance in technology through out the years, hard headed convicts have done the same when it comes to building their tattoo guns. That’s why prison tattoos these days look so damn sharp. There are two standard types of prison tattoo pistols. The spinner and the relay. The relay method is much better than the now obsolete spinner rig-up of the past.

Not only is a tattoo artist able to maintain better control of a gun powered with a relay, but their also easier to build.

1. A convict first breaks down his or her most valued possession, their AM-FM radio, and then removes the transistor.
The micro-thin copper coated wire is then carefully removed, wrapped around a screw which provides an automatic relay when juiced up. A convict must then smuggle some wire brush bristles from the maintenance shop which will serve him as a needle when sharpened correctly.

2. The cylinder is made from a quality mechanical pencil and the armature bar is made with a piece of flexible pallet band and dime size magnet. The tattoo gun is now powered by the transistor of yet another radio so owning one of these jack hammers can be costly considering the fact money is hard to come by in prison.

3. The struggle of prison tattooing doesn’t end there. Any tattoo artist caught slinging ink in prison is in for 15 days Solitary Confinement while all of his earnings are confiscated.

So that pretty much explains why tattoo artists in prison make some decent funds. As well as kill younger men at an early age. Not much more can be said and really what else can anyone say when they see tats on young men such as shown. As you can see some men gave up years ago from seeing them on the streets. Your able to tell the difference from prison and legally obtained tats. Those you do see after so many times your able to say well that person won't make it as old as I am today. Many will dye before they reach fifty.