Tattoo Mafia: Symbols, Symbolism, and Meanings

Origins of Tattoos in Criminal Gangs:

In the world of mobsters, tattoos hold decisive significance. For instance, members of the Neapolitan quartiere would tattoo ‘Don’t Touch My Family’ on their forearms to protect their loved ones from enemies. The Camorra Mafia in Naples, Italy, has long embraced tattoos to show loyalty and indicate their organizational role.

Symbols Used by Criminal Gangs:

tattoos serve as a means of communication among gang members, with each gang having its own set of symbols. These symbols can convey information about the rank, and history of violent crimes, and even help law enforcement officials identify individuals. For example, the Black Panther gang uses an image of a black dragon attacking a prison gun tower to symbolize their political ideology of the black revolution. Blood gang members use codes in their markings, such as the 13/13 ciphering technique.

Symbolism Behind Tattoos:

tattoos can be a powerful expression, providing insight into gang members’ histories and affiliations. Certain tattoos, seemingly innocuous, may hold more profound meanings. For instance, a skull tattoo indicates weapon proficiency, while pirate tattoos point to mafia members involved in the robbery. Russian mafia tattoos convey a criminal’s position in the organization and the length of their incarceration and crimes committed.

Meanings Behind Tattoos:

tattoos play a vital role in the toolbox of criminal gangs. They help identify members and indicate their status within the group. Specific symbols can reveal crimes committed, such as roses or snakes, meaning robbery, and dollar bills or skyscrapers pointing to drug trafficking. Like the five-point crown, prison tattoos can represent leadership or high-ranking status within a gang. Tattoos associated with white supremacists or Nazi groups often display numbers representing the frequency of arrests.

Tattoo Traditions in Different Gangs:

Various criminal gangs have unique tattoo traditions. In Soviet prisons, crews like Thieves in Law utilized tattoos to rank prisoners within their group. On the other hand, Japanese mafia members tend to avoid tattoos due to their taboo nature in Japan, which can pose challenges when job hunting or applying for college. However, tattoos may be used by Japanese mafia members for identity protection.