Surprisingly, very often people who are absolutely far from the concepts of thieves and the world of thieves are drawn to find out the meaning of this or that tattoo. Of course, they can’t swear off prison; everyone knows about it. “Show me a man with a tattoo, and I will show you a man with an interesting past,” wrote Jack London.
Well, sometimes, when returning home on public transport, you can really notice a person “with an interesting past” when you see his fingers or hand painted with cheap paint. In this article we will talk about the meanings of common prison tattoos, and we will start with tattoos in the form of rings on the fingers.
Prison tattoos of rings on fingers and their meaning
| Criminals in the family. Traditionally associated with the abbreviation EVIL, which stands for “testaments of the beloved father.” | |
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The youngster is behind us. Childhood spent in educational colonies and correctional camps. |
| As a rule, such rings are “worn” by Muslims. The crescent and diagonal line indicate time served in a maximum security correctional facility. | |
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Solid black ring. Means the time served “from bell to bell.” He was released according to the court verdict, without parole. |
| Can be found in both men and women. Identification sign of those who served their sentences in the famous Kresty prison in the city of St. Petersburg. | |
| Ring of a prisoner for robbery. | |
| One of the tattoos of the “lowered” and “parashnikov”. Mostly done by force. In the 90s, you could meet card debtors with such a ring. After release, prisoners with such a mark often painted over the white part of the square, turning the tattoo into a black solid black square (its meaning is written above). | |
| A black square with a transverse white stripe diagonally. The owner of such a ring passed through the zone and was released. | |
| Tattoo in the form of a diagonal white stripe with three black dots inside on a black background. This is the so-called homosexual “rooster” ring. This tattoo belongs to the caste of the downtrodden and offended in prison. | |
| Black and white peak part divided by an oblique line. Usually deciphered as “meet the age of majority in the zone.” | |
| Ring with a suit of hearts at the bottom right. The color of a pedophile - convicted of indecent assault on a minor. | |
| A sign of authority. The ring depicts the hearts and clubs suits in a checkerboard pattern. | |
| Two-tone ring separated by a slash. In the white part there is a sign of the club suit. The tattoo means “passed through the Crosses” - the famous prison in the city of St. Petersburg. | |
| Most often, such a ring is applied forcibly. Its presence on the finger indicates the term for rape of a minor - “Tselkarik”. | |
| Ace of diamonds tattoo. Characterizes the owner as a professional card sharper. | |
| This symbol can be found not only on fingers. Denotes a “cormorant” imprisoned for hooliganism. The ring looks like an inverted lance on a white background. | |
| Both men's and women's tattoos. Indicates a prison sentence for theft. A common thieves' tattoo. | |
| Tattoo with the image of a tulip on a white background. Its owner served his sentence in a correctional labor colony. Rays can also be depicted around the flower, indicating the period or number of walks. | |
| One of the tattoos is “denied.” For owners of such tattoos, the phrase “To live means to fight” is typical. The owner will not retreat, will not give up, and is ready to resort to violence. | |
| This ring signifies a “godfather”, a thief in law. The tattoo looks like a crown on a white background. Can be depicted with diverging rays, the number of which indicates the number of convictions. | |
| Swastika tattoo in a white circle. The sign of negation has nothing to do with Nazism. A symbol of anarchism, cruelty, aggression in the zone. | |
| Ring with the image of a hammer and sickle. Its owner does not agree with the verdict. The tattoo is found together with the abbreviation GOD: “was condemned by the state.” | |
| Ring in the form of a figured cross. Denotes memory of deceased parents. |
| The famous "cathedral". It is applied both in the form of rings and on large areas of the body. Applied by prisoners with at least three walks. The number of domes symbolizes the number of terms. | |
| A black cross with diverging rays also indicates a criminal record and the number of prison terms. | |
| Tattoo in the form of a black cross on a white background. Also denotes a prison sentence. Can be depicted with numbers indicating the duration of the term or the number of walks. | |
| The ring of someone who began criminal activity as a minor. The tattoo looks like a black cross with a dot and diverging rays. "Alone in a circle of friends." | |
| The grave cross is a controversial tattoo. Sometimes found in people who denied it. May represent the memory of deceased relatives. | |
| A black cross on a white background is usually applied to the index finger. Indicates time served. Can be found in both men and women. | |
| The distinctive sign of the six is a prisoner who carries out orders from authorities in the zone. | |
| A fairly rare tattoo that denotes a crime committed for religious reasons. An inverted star is considered a sign of Satanists. | |
| A ring denoting membership in the Jewish community. Classic Zionist Star of David. “I passed through the zone, but did not betray my faith.” | |
| According to prison concepts, the pacifist sign has a completely different meaning from the classical one. This tattoo is applied to malicious violators of the prison regime and serves as a sign of aggression. | |
| A dagger stuck into a shoulder strap. Denotes a conviction for a crime against a law enforcement officer. Stands for “death to the cops.” | |
| Ring "CAT": a native inhabitant of the prison. A tattoo means a long stay in prison. Thief symbol. | |
| Originally a nautical tattoo. The ring contains a heart, an anchor and a heart. Stands for "love and freedom." | |
| A tattoo on the finger in the form of a hare characterizes its owner as prone to depraved acts or relationships with prostitutes. | |
| This tattoo can be on the finger of both a man and a woman. Two stripes indicate two moves. | |
| Badge of a person serving time for murder. A dagger with a snake denotes aggression and cruelty. | |
| A very common ring. There is a white cross on the spider's back. Symbol of a convicted robbery. | |
| A characteristic symbol of a “man”—one who maintains neutrality in the zone. | |
| Often a woman's tattoo, denoting lost youth. The ring depicts the sun and seagulls. | |
| “Passed the bitch zone.” | |
| A former thief who follows the thieves' code. The tattoo features two white triangles on a black background. The number at the top indicates the term, the number at the bottom indicates the number of convictions. | |
| One of the thieves' tattoos. Indicates a conviction for theft. | |
| Classic female prison tattoo. Indicates a prison sentence for disorderly conduct. |
What do other tattoos on the zone mean?
Rings are not the only type of prison tattoo. Before I show you other tattoos of prisoners, which are applied to completely different parts of the body, I must say that prison tattoo culture is changing as rapidly as the art of body painting.
The values we are talking about in this article were relevant in the 90s and 2000s. Of course, the tradition of thieves tattoos is still alive in Russian prisons and will live for a long time. Tattoos are still painted with homemade paint from burnt soles with the addition of iodine. But it’s hard to say how long everything will be like this.
By the way, among famous personalities there are owners of similar works. One of them is scandalous, which you can read about in a separate article.
| Women's ring "thief" | Women's tattoo "first conviction" | ||
| Waffler | Six | ||
| Thieves' authority | Denied | Murderer | Cathedral |
| ] | |||
| "Orphan" |
Real photos of prison tattoos
Surely you have heard about the famous thief star tattoo on the knees. We wrote about its meaning in a separate article. This is the most famous thief tattoo, for which the prison administration beats the prisoner without any questions (based on the stories of former prisoners), in order to check whether they really do not kneel. Below you will find several photos of common prison tattoos.
A senior forensic expert at the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs named Arkady Bronnikov, during his 30 years of service, collected a huge collection of photographs of prison tattoos. Next you will see a transcript and description of the prison symbols that prisoners tattoo on their skin.
In the photo: a snake wrapped around the neck is a sign that the owner of the tattoo is using drugs. Most prisoners are either alcoholics or drug addicts. They committed many crimes in a state of intoxication. Stars on the collarbones and epaulets on the shoulders indicate that we have authority in front of us. The prisoner's pants are part of the uniform of a special regime colony, the strictest prison regime in the Soviet Union. Prisoners of such colonies are called especially dangerous repeat offenders; they may be responsible for such serious crimes as pedophilia. They are sentenced to stricter custody than other prisoners and cannot be released on parole.
Stars on the shoulders indicate that this prisoner is a criminal “authority.” The medals are pre-revolutionary awards, so their image becomes a sign of disobedience to the Soviet regime. Eyes on the stomach indicate homosexuality of their owner (the penis becomes the “nose” on the depicted face).
Images of monasteries, churches, cathedrals, the Virgin Mary, saints and angels, usually on the chest and back, mean belonging to the world of thieves and its “concepts”. Tattoos of skulls, in some places accompanied by an image of a flying angel, indicate that the prisoner was convicted of murder. The coffin is another sign of murder; the murdered person is buried in it.
The shape of the epaulettes tattooed on the shoulders is borrowed either from the pre-revolutionary form, or from the existing Soviet one, both options indicate the negative attitude of their owner towards the system. These tattoos are found on crime bosses who go by nicknames such as “Major” or “Colonel.” Epaulets with three small stars or skulls can be deciphered as follows: “I am not a slave of the camps, no one can force me to work”, “I am a prisoner, but born free”, “I am a colonel in the zone - I will not get my hands dirty on a wheelbarrow”, “ The strong win - the weak die,” “Horses die from work.”
On the hand is written “Remember me, don’t forget” and “I’ve been waiting for you for 15 years.”
This man is a Muslim. On his stomach on the left is a cult building with a crescent moon, his facial features also indicate that he is not Russian. He is not an authority in the world of thieves, but tried to pretend to be one with the help of tattoos, which were supposed to increase his position in the prison hierarchy. The lighthouse on the right hand symbolizes the desire for freedom. The handcuffs on each wrist indicate he is sentenced to more than five years in prison.
Madonna and Child is a talisman for thieves, protecting against misfortunes and troubles. It also indicates that the owner was a thief from an early age: “Prison is my home,” “Child of prison.”
Eight-pointed stars are the emblems of a thief-authority who lives according to “thieves’ concepts.” There are many options for "thief" stars. The lines inside the ends of the star mean that the owner of the tattoo served in the military, but abandoned it and went into crime; literally, the tattoos of such prisoners mean “I despise the army.”
This prisoner is a victim of syphilis, the disease has left deep scars on his face, eyes and mouth. In prisons and colonies, prisoners, both men and women, suffering from sexually transmitted diseases (such as syphilis) are called “bouquet workers.” They are also awarded military ranks depending on how severe the illness is. For example, “Kolka hung around with women and didn’t give a damn, yesterday the doctor told me that he was already a “lieutenant”” (a prisoner suffering from stage two syphilis is called “colonel”, stage three is called “general”). There have been cases of people contracting syphilis, AIDS and tetanus when they were tattooed in unsanitary prison conditions. Tattooing is prohibited in prisons and camps. The status of this procedure grew as it became increasingly secret due to prohibitions and severe punishments from the administration.
The “demons” on this prisoner’s shoulders symbolize hatred of authority and the prison hierarchy. This type of tattoo is known as a “grin” tattoo - its owner “shows his teeth” to the system. Sometimes “grins” are accompanied by anti-Soviet signatures.
On the hands is written: “Thank you, dear Motherland, for our ruined youth.”
The image of a dagger on the throat suggests that the prisoner has committed a murder in prison, and he can be hired to commit another one. Drops of blood could indicate the number of people he killed.
Many criminals perceive Lenin as the “godfather” (leader) of the Communist Party. The letters VOR, which can sometimes be seen under his image, carry a double meaning. This is an acronym for the phrase "Leader of the October Revolution", but is also simply the Russian word for "thief".
The inscription on the chest: “He who is not with me is against me.”
Swastikas and Nazi symbols can mean that their owner sympathizes with fascism, although more often they are made to show the prisoner's hostility towards the prison or camp administration. During the Soviet period, the administration often removed such tattoos by force, either surgically or with ink. The image of a mermaid can mean a sentence for child rape or child molestation. In prison jargon, the words “amurik”, “shaggy” and “station wagon” are used to designate the person who committed such a crime. They become "relegated" in the prison hierarchy after being raped by other prisoners, sometimes in groups.
The inscription above the cross: “Oh God! Save and preserve your servant... Victor,” under the cross – “God, judge me not by my deeds, but by your mercy.” The inscription above the waist “*** need and grief...” [Indifferent to need and grief].
The skull and bones indicate that the prisoner is serving a life sentence. One eight-pointed star means that he is a semi-authority among thieves. The girl holding her dress with a fishing rod on her left forearm is a tattoo of hooligans and rapists. A snake coiled around human remains (in the crook of each arm) is a variant of the old thief tattoo. The snake is a symbol of temptation; here the head of the snake was replaced by the female head of a temptress. On the right side of the abdomen is a version of Giorgione’s “Judith” from 1504: a symbol of the crafty seductress who betrays a noble man.
Dollar bills, skyscrapers and a machine with the abbreviation US speak of the prisoner's love for the American mafia lifestyle. The eyes mean “I am watching you” (other prisoners in a prison or camp).
On the hand, under the image of the skull, is written the Latin phrase Memento Mori, which means “Remember that you are dust.”
The double-headed eagle is a symbol of Russian statehood, dating back to the 15th century and used by Peter the Great. After the fall of communism in 1993, it replaced the hammer and sickle on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation. The photo was taken during the Soviet period, when a tattoo in the form of this emblem was a sign of hatred towards the USSR. It can also be interpreted as “Russia for Russians” or “For Russia without Jews, Khachas and Marxist-Leninists.” The Statue of Liberty indicates a longing for freedom, and the dark character with a gun suggests that this prisoner is ready for violence and murder. The eyes on the chest mean “I see everything” and “I watch”, this is the famous tattoo of a prisoner belonging to the “watcher” caste. An eight-pointed star on the shoulders means that its owner is a thief-authority.
The inscription on the right hand: “Take care of love and freedom.” On the right hand: “Sinner.” The inscription on the chest: “To each his own.” The inscription under the skulls: “God is against everyone, everyone is against God.” On the wrist is written Mein Gott, "My God" in German.
A cowboy with a gun indicates that this thief is willing to take risks and will not miss a single challenge. A dove carrying a branch (on the left shoulder) is a symbol of good news and deliverance from suffering.
The stars on the shoulders mark the thief-authority. The rose on his chest means that he celebrated his eighteenth birthday in prison. For the abbreviation SOS on the right forearm, there are several options for decoding: “Save from the court”, “Save from the bitches”, “Save from syphilis”, “Save, father, son”, “Bitches took away freedom”.
The inscription on the chest: “Save and preserve.” On each side of the cross is written “XV” (“Christ has risen”).
An eight-pointed star on the collarbone indicates a high position in the thieves' hierarchy. A bow tie around the neck is often found in maximum security colonies. This image was originally a disgraceful tattoo. Such tattoos were forcibly given to pickpockets who violated the “thieves’ rules” and began working for the administration; they were placed under images of cats on the collarbones. However, subsequently the connection of this symbol with shameful marks disappeared. The dollar sign on the bowtie indicates that its owner is either a security thief, a money launderer, or was convicted of theft of government property.
This tattoo is a variation of the myth of Prometheus, who deceived Zeus and was chained to a rock for eternal punishment. A ship with white sails means that the prisoner does not do ordinary work, he is a touring thief and prone to escape.
Tattoo (in jargon - “tattoo”, “regal”, “picture”, “portack”) - application of drawings, inscriptions, numbers, signs to the body by introducing dyes under the skin using cutting and piercing instruments. Tattoos made by creating scars on the surface of the skin with cutting instruments are also common. They are made without introducing dyes under the skin. Such tattoos are found mostly on people with dark skin color.
The historical aspect of tattoos has been sufficiently studied. There is special literature on this issue. Tattoos have been studied for centuries among peoples at different stages of social development.
Let's look at the origin of the term "tattoo". Several versions are given in foreign and Russian (Soviet) sources.
Version one. The word "tattoo" is of Tahitian origin: "ta" - picture, "atu" - spirit. Thus: ta" - "atu", "tattoo" - picture - spirit. That is, a sign, a symbol, as an inseparable prop in the life of Oceania.
Version two. “Ta-tatau”, “tatoo”, “tatau”, “ta-tattorio” - onomatopoeia to noise: “tat-tat-tat”, i.e., three times tapping on the instrument with which tattoos are applied.
According to the third version, the word tattoo has a religious meaning comparable to Christian baptism or Jewish circumcision, and comes from the name of the Polynesian god "Tiki", who, according to legend, marked the beginning of tattooing.
There is a fourth version, according to which the root of the word “tattoo” corresponds to the Javanese “tattoo”, i.e. “wound”, “wounded”.
The tendency to tattoo largely depends on the age of minors and young people
The chart shows that those under the age of 15 are especially prone to getting facial tattoos. They make up 68-71% of the number of minors who got tattoos. In older people, the intensity of tattooing decreases. The older age group (17–19 year olds) are less likely to get tattoos. There are only 3-3.5% of them. When preventing tattooing, it is necessary to focus special attention on younger age groups of offenders kept in special schools and special vocational schools. After all, they are not yet fully aware of the moral harm of tattoos, they succumb more easily to group pressure and mood, and some get a tattoo out of group solidarity.
There is a certain relationship between the nature of antisocial activity (crime committed) and the content of tattoos. Thus, among persons belonging to the criminal elite (committing assaults, robberies, thefts, and racketeering) group criminal solidarity is more pronounced. This can be seen in tattoos, inscriptions, drawings, and abbreviations. At the same time, the more often a minor or young person was delivered to a reception center, the more he changed them, the more the relationship between the frequency of tattoos, their content and the nature of the crime weakened. Differences in the prevalence of tattoos among persons who have committed a crime and were taken to a reception center or to a special school (special vocational school) for other reasons turn out to be insignificant.
Information about the institutions where minors first received tattoos (we are talking about persons who have not been subject to criminal punishment)
1 – before being sent to a special school (special vocational school), i.e. at liberty
2 – in receivers-distributors
3 – in a special school
4 – in a special vocational school
5 – in the hospital and other places
Minors and young people who were subjected to criminal punishment in the form of imprisonment got tattoos mainly in the pre-trial detention center and military-technical complex, but more than 15% are still free.
Consequently, joining the criminal world, entering the criminal community at large requires the acceptance of all the values of the criminal group, one of which is tattoos. In special vocational schools and military technical schools, tattoos, as a rule, are applied again (or even for the third time).
In special schools, special vocational schools and technical colleges, most minors and young people are tattooed, as a rule, during the adaptation period, usually during and after the end of their “registration”. After all, it is then that it is necessary to display in tattoos the received status of the individual in the group hierarchy or its change. As the length of stay in a special or correctional institution increases, the frequency of tattooing decreases somewhat. This is partly explained by the fact that there is a threat of punishment for such a violation of the regime.
It should be noted that in order to avoid punishment, minors and young offenders begin to tattoo intimate surfaces of the body more often. Apparently, medical control in the fight against tattoos of “old people” is carried out poorly. Tattoos are often applied on the day or night before graduation from a special school (special vocational school), release from the military technical school, when disciplinary measures cannot be applied to those leaving.
Up to 60% of minors and young people “paint” their bodies in several stages: upon entering a criminal group while at large, then they improve their “painting” in a reception center, and complete their “art” in a special school (special vocational schools and technical colleges).
What parts of the body do minors and young people prefer to get tattooed? Research shows that tattoos are applied to all areas of the body, both open and hidden under clothing. Some people prefer to tattoo open areas of the body (hands, fingers, face, neck), others prefer to tattoo them hidden under clothing (chest, back, legs), others prefer to tattoo intimate areas (buttocks, genitals, perineum), while others resort to full tattooing of the majority. areas of the body surface, the fifth forcefully apply brands (marks) to open areas of the body and especially to the face (forehead, nose, chin, lips, behind the ears) and neck.
However, teenagers and young adults have favorite places for tattoos: on the fingers (in the form of rings), on the hands (dots, crosses, bells, seagulls, sunrise, abbreviations), on the wrists, shoulders, forearms, thighs, knees and shins, on the chest and back. The number of tattoos per person ranges from one to several dozen.
The choice of the area of the body where the tattoo is applied depends on many factors and, first of all, on who applied them - the teenager (young man) himself or someone else. If you do it yourself, then the tattoos are naturally located in areas convenient for application (on the fingers, hands, wrist, forearm of the left hand, if the teenager is right-handed, and on the listed areas of the right hand, if he is left-handed), on the chest, thighs and lower legs. If applied by a specialist, then on any part of the body. If tattoos were applied forcibly (marks, brands), then they are usually on the nose, cheek, chin, near the ears and behind the ears, but often on intimate parts of the body. For example, a dot fly - a sign of a passive homosexual - on the buttocks, there is also a sign of quality, a fireman with a shovel throwing coal into the anus, etc. Recently, tattoos are increasingly being applied to the genitals (both men and women). They also make tattoos on the tongue, the inside of the lips, and on the eyelids.
The content of tattoos and their location depend on the whims of fashion. At different times, different drawings and inscriptions, abbreviations, corresponding not only to fashion in a given craft, but also to the way of thinking and behavior, become widespread. However, there are drawings, sayings, abbreviations, traditional for offenders, not subject to fashion: “rings” on the fingers, a seagull over the waves, a rose flower entwined with barbed wire; a snake entwined around a dagger, a skull, a naked woman, a female or male head (bust), eight-pointed stars, a “grin” (the head of a tiger, leopard, lynx), a burning torch, a lighthouse, prison bars, five dots; crosses, crucifixes, churches, cathedrals, monasteries, playing cards, syringe, torn shackles or handcuffs, etc.
Tattoos reflect the personality of a teenager and young man, his values, way of thinking, and attitudes. It is not surprising that for many members of criminal groups, the content of tattoos turned out to be closely related to their behavior. According to experts, tattoos as a sign of a criminal subculture have a specific weight of 0.6) and are in 14th place out of 19 identified signs. However, some minors and young people resort to tattooing as a fashion, so they usually do not follow the norms reflected in the drawings and inscriptions, considering tattoos only as decoration.
Sometimes tattoos are classified as one of the genres of fine art of the thieves' world. “Much suggests that in addition to satisfying the aesthetic sense, the custom of tattooing is associated with relict psychosocial motives and with the hierarchical diagnosis of the subject in the world of thieves.
As noted, tattoos are often applied in freedom. This happens not only in school, vocational school, in a workers’ dormitory, but also in the army, in general, where the “spirit of the barracks”, “spirit of the hostel” is present. In the army, tattoos are most often applied in construction and railway units, convoy guard units, marines, and airborne troops.
In general, when applying tattoos to military personnel, two trends can be traced: among the criminal contingent, most tattoos are identical to tattoos applied to criminal youth at large and in colonies; and among non-criminals, tattoos predominate - symbols of the military branches and armed forces (parachute, rocket, sea anchor, steering wheel, tank, various types of weapons). The element of tattoos is often a woman’s head, figure, etc. Many tattoos are applied “in memory” of the years of service spent in the army and navy (dates of conscription and transfer to the reserve, etc.).
Classification of tattoos
By the inscriptions, drawings, sayings, abbreviations included in the tattoo, one can determine, as it were, the inner content of a person’s personality. In order for this diagnostic process to be more successful, it is necessary to know which classification group this or that tattoo belongs to, why it is located on a given area of the body, what it means, what its functional significance is, etc.
We classify tattoos on the following grounds: form of expression and semantic meaning, content (thematic focus), i.e. functional significance; location on the body surface; application methods; removal methods; degree of stability; sizes; amount on the body surface; the degree of impact on the subjects of perception.
Classification of tattoos by form of expression and semantic meaning
Teenager V. had 45 tattoos: on the surface of the phalanges of his right hand the numbers 1975 and 1992, on the surface of the hand near the thumb the letter “B”, on the index finger of his left hand - a cross, on the middle finger - a ring with a crown, on the little finger - a treble clef , on the forearm - a naked woman in a cap, in boots with a Schmeiser on a barrel of beer, on the thumb of the right hand - the letters "AT", on the left forearm - a glass entwined with a snake and a sailboat on the waves; on the right shin there is a hand holding a knife with a broken blade and drops of blood flowing down (a skull on top); on the right shoulder there is an shoulder strap with an eagle, crossed bones and a ribbon with the letters “KVTK”; on the left thigh there is an executioner in a mask with a hood and a naked girl with a chain around her neck (the girl’s thighs are covered with a veil), a block and an ax. On the right forearm there is the inscription “There is no happiness in life”, on the back of the hand there is the abbreviation “BARS” and five dots, etc.
We can say that this teenager has all types of tattoos: numbers, individual letters, abbreviations, text, drawings and symbols (conventional signs) in various combinations. The numbers indicate the year of birth, the year of release or the year of arrest (In our case: 1975 is the year of birth, 1992 is the year of expiration). As a rule, numbers are applied to the phalanges of the fingers, but they can also be on the hands, wrists, forearm, chest, and legs. Dates can also have another meaning: to indicate some kind of family event, the day of the mother’s death, meeting a girl, etc.
Individual letters, words, and abbreviations are most often tattooed on the back of the fingers, hands, legs, and forearm. Individual letters can indicate the initials of the bearer (in our case, the teenager’s name is Victor), “AT” means that he fraternized with someone while in the VTK (the “brother” should have the letters “BR” in the same place). It turns out that one has the letters “BR” and the other “AT”, together these letters make up the word “BROTHER”. There may also be other options: “KE” + “NT” = “KENT” (friend), “BRA + TAN”, and for girls - “SES” + “TRA” = “SISTER”.
The abbreviation "BARS" means that the teenager we were talking about is aggressively opposed to the asset: BARS-Bey Active, Rezh Suk. KVTK - Kolpino Educational Labor Colony, however, it could just as easily be the “Kostroma Educational Labor Colony”, etc.
It should be noted that many abbreviations have not one, but many semantic meanings, for example: EVIL, ELEPHANT, LTV, etc. Each minor puts his own meaning into one or another abbreviation. Some authors (for example, A.D. Vorokhov and V.A. Gubin) believe that some transcripts have a true meaning, while others have a false meaning. For example: LTV - Cop Your Enemy - true, and Love Comrade Will - false.
An abbreviation is usually created in three ways
The first way is First, a catchy saying is formulated or selected, reflecting the values of the criminal subculture, and then (based on the initial letters of the words) an abbreviation is formed. For example: “Death to the Chekists, Hello to the Anarchists”, we get “SCHPA”.
Second way- exactly the opposite. They also take some fairly catchy word and make attempts to decipher it in their own way. For example: "TANK" - Secret Agent of the Head of the Colony, "NKVD" - No Stronger Than Thieves' Friendship. The content of abbreviations may change over time. This happened, for example, with the abbreviation “ELEPHANT”. At first it was worn by prisoners of the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camps, as an indicator of their brotherhood. Not knowing the history of the GULAG and the origin of this abbreviation, youth criminal groups began to put a different meaning into it.
Third way- rethinking traditional abbreviations, putting new content into them. The abbreviation “ELEPHANT” has undergone a number of such transformations. The same thing happened with the abbreviation "LTP". Reading the editorial letters, the correspondent reports, I learned that “LTP” is deciphered in different ways. “The cops decided it that way,” “It’s better than that - Die,” and a dozen more options.
There are no hard and fast rules for creating an abbreviation, since it is the “creativity” of many people. In one case, the abbreviation is formed only from the initial letters of each word (CHALK - My Only Love), in other cases one is taken from one word, several initial letters from others (for example, TIGER - Prison-Toy). In some cases, conjunctions and pronouns are not taken into account, in others they are. Let's compare: EVIL - I will take revenge on the cops for everything and the Testament of the Beloved Father.
Texts. It has been noticed that minors and young people like to write various texts of a sentimental, humorous and other nature on their bodies. Most often they are given the meaning of an aphorism. In our example, this is the inscription “There is no happiness in life.”
Here are the most typical texts of this type:
"Chained, Lena, my heart groans for you"
“So my youth flew away” (on the leg against the background of the bars)
“They are tired” or “They are tired of walking under escort” (these tattoos are applied to the legs)
“There is no happiness from an early age”
"Ring on the day of liberation" (applied under the bell on the leg or forearm)
“I will not forget my dear mother” (traditional prison inscription) or “I remember my mother, my old lady” (sentimental inscription)
On one leg: “Where are you going?”, on the other, obscene
“How many mistakes have been made” (regret about the past)
"God will save the glutton" (inscription on the stomach)
“I’m home again” and “I’m the boss again” (applied on the parietal part of the head under the hair)
From the above, we can conclude that tattooed texts, letters and words are very diverse in content and location on the body. They can have an independent meaning or serve as an explanation for a picture or symbol.
The images most often used in the drawings are: animals (lion, tiger, lynx, leopard, cat, etc.), birds (eagle, seagull, falcon, pigeon), reptiles (snake entwined around the body, arm, leg, etc.) ; people or parts of the body (naked woman, male fireman (on the buttocks), knight or knight, “hussar” - bust of a woman in a hussar headdress, busts of public and government figures (in Bulgaria the silhouette of G. Dimitrov was often depicted), hands in handcuffs , human skull, legs in shackles, genitals, etc.); symbols of the criminal world (maps, attributes of alcohol, pistols, a dagger piercing a police shoulder strap, torn shackles or handcuffs, tombstones, etc.); natural phenomena and landscapes (sunrise as a sign of freedom, lightning, a month, palm trees on an island, the sea, etc.); religious elements and objects of worship (crosses, tombstones, crucifixes, domes of churches, monasteries, burning candles); mythical characters and heroes of various fairy tales (devils, Baba Yaga, flying carpet, epic heroes, etc.); symbols of various professions (anchors, propellers, lifebuoys, parachutes, military symbols, etc.); prison symbols (rose flower behind barbed wire, prison bars, bells); other items and things used to create various scenes.
Especially it should be said about the symbols that minors and young people put on their bodies. In our example, teenager “B” has crosses, indicating “walking”; ring - passed the juvenile age; treble clef merry life; five dots - prison, etc. There are infinitely many elements of criminal-thieves symbolism. Along with the listed symbols, tattoos often depict bracelets on wrists, torn handcuffs and shackles, eight-pointed stars, a pistol, cards, a syringe, etc. Symbols are conventional signs that have a certain meaning, incomprehensible to the uninitiated. Moreover, they usually have not one, but several interpretations. Symbolism arose earlier than writing. One of the steps leading to writing was pictography (writing in drawings). Gradually, the drawing was transformed into a sign, simplified and schematized. A symbol is a type of sign. However, this is a special sign: it partially displays the similarity with the designated object. But the symbol must not contain a detailed reproduction of all or the main properties of the object. There is no clear connection between a symbol and the object it denotes.
Therefore, the perception of a symbol largely depends on specific conditions, including the meanings accepted in a given social group and assigned to a particular symbol.
Symbolism in a criminal environment is closely related to its traditions, customs, and rituals. When applying tattoos, minors and young offenders proceed not so much from their tastes, but from the accepted methods of recording the stages of criminal activity, their place in the group hierarchy, the nature of the crime committed, time spent in prison, and other legal restrictions, etc.
Depending on the content (thematic focus), value-functional significance and symbolism used, we divide all tattoos into: signal-isolating, personal-attitude, stratification-informational, mythological and cult, anti-religious, prison (thieves'), sexually - erotic, artistic -decorative, humorous, sentimental (memorable) and professional (symbols of various professions). Let's look at them.
Signal and distinctive tattoos as if they had adopted and continued the functions of the ethnic ones that arose in ancient times. They are now a certain value not of an ethnic group, but of certain criminal groups.
These tattoos serve: as a means of separating their bearers from persons (adults, minors) belonging to other communities; are identification marks, indicators of the affiliation of minors and youth to certain, specific communities, for example, to a criminal group of minors in a city microdistrict (“office”, “gang”); facilitate contacts between their carriers who find themselves in a new environment, but are unfamiliar with each other. When meeting, for example, a newcomer who has arrived at a special vocational school, old-timers can tell by tattoos whether he is “one of their own” or “someone else’s.” For these purposes, rings are most often applied (on the fingers) - one ring - one criminal record (once he was placed in a special school or special vocational school), two rings - two criminal records (before special vocational school he was in re-education in a special school), etc.; octagonal stars are a sign of belonging to the thief's "suit" (thief in law). They are applied in the collarbone area or under the collarbones; in the area of the joints, applied to the knees means “I will not kneel before anyone.”
Stratification and information tattoos are designed to: record the position of a teenager and young man on the hierarchical ladder in a criminal group, his special status and role (“horn”, “thieves”, “criminal”, “kid”, “chushka”, “offended”, etc.); predetermine the claims, rights and obligations of minors and young people; guide group members in choosing a behavioral strategy in relations with new members.
For this, a variety of symbols, drawings, and texts are used, in which it is necessary to show the difference between the “authorities” and “leaders” from the main mass, and to stigmatize those who are at the lowest levels of the group hierarchy. If a person’s status in the criminal subculture has changed, then new tattoos are applied to him.
Let's consider the content of some tattoos from this group: rays emanating from the sun (the number of rays should correspond to the number of convictions or arrests in the police, placement in a reception center, the number of terms of serving a sentence in a military-technical complex, stay in a special school and special vocational school). For the same purpose, the rays extending from the ring on the finger are used; crosses (their number is equal to the number of years spent in a special school, special vocational school or VTK, and dashes - half a year). Shoulder straps on gshechs (seniority in the group hierarchy is determined by the tattooed rank - “captain”, “major”, etc.); animals (belonging to the elite is determined by the type of animal, bird, reptile depicted: lion - strong, kind; fox - cunning, resourceful; tiger - decisive, cruel, brave; eagle - lord over all, strong, etc.).
For branding, cynical, offensive brands are used: known to everyone in the criminal environment, for example, the front sight is forcibly applied to those who betrayed the traditions of thieves, stained themselves by informing, and more often to those who were subjected to sodomy. They also apply the abbreviation V.O.R.
The symbolism of the crime committed is also tattooed: the grave cross is the “suit” of the killer; a police shoulder strap pierced with a dagger - committed a crime against a police officer; tattooed dollar - committed a robbery; playing cards - a card player "of interest", suit "spade" - committed a serious crime (gangster attack, murder, robbery); prison bars in combination with barbed wire or five points - previously served a sentence, was kept in a pre-trial detention center, a reception center; three dots on a girl's hand - a thief; “Grin” (mouth of a predatory animal) - convicted of hooliganism, etc.
Those institutions where the minor was previously located are also indicated, for example: RPR (Rizhsky) Ryazan Reception - Distributor, MT-Matrosskaya Tishina. A minor or young man arriving from there, having met someone with the same sign in a new institution, becomes his “countryman”, receives his patronage and protection from harassment.
Personality-setting tattoos: reveal the biography of the individual, demonstrate his “passport” data; reflect the principles and attitudes that a person sought to follow in life; express his desire for study, work, the team, group moral norms, and his criminal past. Such tattoos also reflect the general moral, political and socio-legal orientation of the teenager, his attitude to social norms, laws, prohibitions, etc. For these purposes, one’s name or initials, year of birth, beginning and end of the period of stay in educational or educational institution are tattooed. correctional institution. For example, the tattoo “MSH-1989” means: “Arrived at the Moscow Special School in 1989.”
To express their life principles, teenagers mark their bodies with sayings of a directive nature, such as “Death to the cops”, “I won’t shake hands with the cops”, “Don’t rush to work”, “I won’t kneel” and abbreviations - BARS (Beat the Active, Cut the Bitch) etc. From the drawings: a flying dove (a seagull above the waves) is a sign of the desire for freedom; church (cathedral, monastery - devotion to thieves, criminal traditions; image of a cat - a fugitive by nature; image of a tiger's mouth - grinning at the administration; image of an anchor with a knot - stopped stealing, "tied up" (became anchored), etc.
For personal identification tattoos: These include drawings, symbols, abbreviations, and inscriptions that contain threats against representatives of law enforcement agencies and, most often, against female persons suspected of infidelity. A threat to someone is reflected not only in the content of the drawing or inscription itself, but also in the location of a certain sequence of individual letters, signs, and dots on one or another part of the body. In this case, the threat can be open (understandable to everyone) or hidden (understandable only to those initiated). Thus, the words “Don’t wake up,” written on the eyelids and visible only when the eyes are closed, or the sayings “There is no mercy for treason” are an open threat. “Grin” can mean a threat addressed not only to representatives of law enforcement agencies, but also to anyone who intends to limit the will of a given person. Images of robbers, pirates, gladiators, skeletons, coffins, skulls, daggers in combination with pierced shoulder straps, hearts, etc. have an aggressive meaning.
Personality-setting tattoos include those that express the intention, for example, to escape from a special school, special vocational school, military-technical complex (broken shackles or handcuffs, etc.), a tendency to have sexual intercourse, or use alcohol and drugs. Here images of women, glasses, bottles, and a syringe are used in combination with various inscriptions and sayings.
Prison (thieves') tattoos indicate that a minor or a young person has been in a reception center, a special school, a special vocational school, an educational labor colony, in short, “behind bars”, knows the prison (thieves’) norms, “laws”, traditions, and is ready to comply with them. They reflect the degree of “experience” of the minor, his criminal experience. In the community of minors in such institutions, socio-psychological mechanisms of infection, imitation, and pressure operate especially effectively.
Most often, to demonstrate a person’s involvement in the community of people “behind bars,” an image of “bars” is used, crosses, silhouettes of churches, monasteries, maps, a syringe, a dagger, chains, shackles (torn or broken), an image of a bell (denoting imprisonment). "deadline" - from call to call). Tombstones with various abbreviations are also depicted, for example, MORNING (Gone on the Path of the Native Father). Prison sayings like “Love freedom like life”, “I go where there is no law”, “Prison is not a school, a prosecutor is not a teacher”, etc. are used, as well as sayings in Latin or foreign languages, for example, Dum spiro, spero (while I live, I hope).
A bracelet on the wrist means that the person has been in prison for at least 5 years. The image of a “laughing devil”, as well as a “grin” at the administration, is a symbol of insubordination. From the above, we can conclude that these drawings and inscriptions most fully reflect the norms of the criminal subculture.
Sexy erotic tattoos: very common among minors and young people. They express sexual orientation that arises as a result of the isolation of adolescents and young people based on gender, reflect dreams of future sexual partners or disappointment in members of the opposite sex. Often, for the purpose of prevention, a sign of an active homosexual is applied, which guarantees against possible sexual advances. This type of tattoo can be moderately erotic as a reflection of the general sexual orientation of minors and youth, then the image of naked women predominates; cynically erotic, with a predominance of images of genital organs, sexual intercourse, accompanied by cynical inscriptions, indicating the names of sexual partners.
This type of tattoo is depicted mainly on closed areas of the body (buttocks, pubic area, thighs, lower abdomen, back, genitals of men and women).
To drawings of erotic content include portraits and busts of women, emblems of love (Cupid with a bow and arrow; a heart pierced by an arrow), images of genitals, sexual intercourse, including in a perverted form. Naked women and female heads are depicted on the hips, back, stomach, and forearms. A dot (“front sight”) is depicted on the cheeks or earlobes, behind the ear. This means that an act of sodomy was committed against these persons. A swastika, a sign of quality, is applied to the genitals (for active homosexuals - on the penis, for passive ones - on the buttocks).
Erotic tattoos also include assurances of love in the form of text on the lower abdomen and pubic area, as well as various sayings such as; “Love me if you have never known grief”, “Love is evil and deception”, “Where love ends, hatred begins”, “Love me as I love you”, etc., as well as an abbreviation; LINEN - “I love Him (Her) Forever”, MAPLE - “I swear to Love Her (Her) Forever”, indicating the name of the “beloved”. The names of those who are "unloved" are usually displayed.
Intentions and thoughts towards females and all kinds of obscene expressions are also tattooed. Thus, the figure of the crucified Christ is replaced by a naked figure of a woman or man with an image of the genitals. Instead of angels, devils, cats, and naked women hover around Christ. Next to the image of a cross, church, cathedral, monastery, saint or against their background there is a cynical inscription, drawings of humorous or pornographic content.
Sentimental (memorable) tattoos: In the life of every minor and young person there are events that he would like to capture “forever.” For these purposes, tattoos are used, applied “in memory” of important events for them, people dear to them, about the years spent together with someone in a special vocational school, military technical school, etc. One of the character traits of people who have spent a long time in conditions legal restrictions or imprisonment - a tendency to sentimentality. Therefore, among minors and young people in special schools, special vocational schools and educational labor colonies, the custom of marking the dates of memorable events (meetings, partings, arrival at a special institution, release from a military-technical complex, release from a special institution) is so widespread. Memorial marks are usually applied to the wrists and forearm. Among the memorable tattoos there are also names of regions and regions where a minor or young offender served a sentence or was undergoing correction, for example: “Kaspiysk”, “Altai”, “Maikop”, “Fergana”, etc.
Often, a brief description of memorable events is given in drawings (image of prison bars, a torch, a rose behind barbed wire, etc.) and inscriptions, as well as sayings like: “Wait, mom.” Against the background of prison bars there may be an inscription: “My youth passed here,” “I go where there is no law,” “How many mistakes have been made, how many roads have been traveled.”
Professional tattoos: Juveniles and young offenders have tattoos with symbols of various professions. They reflect dreams and aspirations for any professional activity. Often these tattoos are used to identify criminal activity with the heroic and most prestigious professions in society (pilot, sailor, geologist, etc.). For this, traditional attributes of heroic professions are used; among sailors, for example, a lighthouse, an anchor, a lifebuoy, a sailboat, a caravel, an albatross, a beauty in a vest and a cap. The meaning of such tattoos is to express love for the sea, navy, and maritime romance. The prevalence of maritime tattoos is also influenced by the prevalence of maritime traditions in society. Many sailors applied similar tattoos to themselves while sailing abroad. They did this in foreign beauty salons. The dream of aviation is expressed in emblems such as a propeller, an airplane silhouette, a parachutist, a rocket silhouette, etc. The spread of professional tattoos is influenced by adults themselves, who flaunt their tattoos, often inflicted during military service. Teenagers most often take their example from them.
The considered classification of tattoos according to content and direction allows us to establish that they are not an accident in criminal groups. Tattoos perform various functions of interpersonal and intergroup interaction. They compensate for the values lost by adolescents and young people due to their physical and spiritual isolation from society. You don't have to be in the "zone" to get a tattoo. However, they are applied there more often. It should be taken into account that, along with generally accepted drawings and inscriptions, each reception center, each special school, each special vocational school and technical college have developed their own traditions, their own “art” schools, passing on cliches, drawings and inscriptions to newcomers “by inheritance.”
It can be assumed that the unwritten “laws” of accepting new people into one’s environment, the persistence of “thieves’” traditions, the imitation of “experienced” criminals who already have tattoos - all this puts pressure on a teenager and young man, forcing him to look for inadequate ways of self-affirmation in a criminal group. Bravado, the desire to demonstrate one’s endurance, “exclusivity,” unusualness, and superiority are powerful motivations for getting tattoos. Vanity also plays a big role here.
One of the respondents argued that when a group starts injecting drugs, it is difficult, impossible to stop. Therefore, tattooing is a temptation that is hard to resist. Tattooing is most often resorted to by minors and young people in conditions of inactivity and unorganized leisure. This is especially evident when a teenager or young man is in quarantine, in a disciplinary room or a medical unit. Here, the process of applying tattoos turns into an exciting group game that requires ingenuity in finding tools for applying drawings, allowing everyone to show their imagination and “twist” teachers and security workers.
It was found that 30% got tattoos “out of boredom” to make time pass faster. Of these, two thirds did this mainly in reception centers or in the first days of their stay in a special school, special vocational school, or in a military-technical complex. After all, the desire to show their involvement in the criminal world is typical for every tenth person.
As it turned out, a significant part of teenagers and young people were subjected to tattooing by force, under the threat of beating, blackmail, losing at cards, etc. They claimed that the tattoos were done to them “impudently”, they were “forced”, coerced, “injected as they wanted” ", etc. Such tattoos are called "cheeky" in slang. They were inflicted on those who unsuccessfully passed the “registration”, were convicted of passive homosexuality, “defiled themselves by informing, broke their word, behaved “dishonestly” with their comrades, “grew dusty” (stole from their own in a cell, department), etc.
The purpose of applying “insolent marks” is to discredit a person and prevent those who consider themselves “pure” from having physical contact with them. Seeing humiliating tattoos, employees of closed educational and correctional institutions must take urgent measures to remove them and identify the rapists, bringing the latter to justice, even criminal liability. Often teenagers and young people agree to get tattoos as a result of psychological treatment. Refusal to apply tattoos, and especially status insignia, is regarded in criminal groups as a violation of the principle of group solidarity with all the ensuing consequences. This is how a psychotraumatic situation arises, from which some find a way out by applying tattoos to themselves in order to avoid the worst - branding; others act according to the mechanism of expedient conformism, striving to apply “moderate”, “obligatory” tattoos. In this situation, psychological defense mechanisms are triggered, so minors easily go for tattooing, considering it the only way out of the current situation. In the midst of a craze for tattoos, teenagers and young people develop a naive desire to be beautiful (at least “not like everyone else”) and the conviction of the need to accept the norms of their group. It should be borne in mind that even if a tattoo is applied “out of nothing to do,” it is nevertheless subject to subsequent reflection. It is given one or another semantic meaning.
Often a tattoo is used as a talisman - a sign that saves you from troubles. Thus, having heard a lot of stories from “experienced” people in the reception center (pre-trial detention center) about the procedures in special schools, special vocational schools, technical training schools, correctional centers, some minors and young people apply tattoos inflating their status, attributing to themselves criminal records, arrests or status, although not high, but, as a rule, not amenable to further reduction (active homosexual, comedian, etc.). Having discovered a tattoo on teenagers and young people who arrived from a reception center (pre-trial detention center), it is necessary to understand their origin and take appropriate measures (remove the tattoos, warn students about the application of disciplinary measures if they are applied again, send a presentation to the reception center (pre-trial detention center). ), where such tattoos were applied, etc.).
In special schools and special vocational schools, reception centers, military technical complexes and pre-trial detention centers, a secret “industry” of tattooing has arisen. Traditional means of tattooing (needle, ink pens, compasses, guitar string) are becoming a thing of the past. Clichés are used more often. In order to automate the process, mechanical razors are being converted. The lack of ink and ready-made paints is compensated by the use of burnt rubber, ground bricks, ballpoint pen paste, ashes from plastic products, etc. In criminal groups at large, it is common to purchase scarce foreign ink, special devices for tattooing, and use tattoo salons that are open in a number of places. tattoos.
It is necessary to identify those who specialize in tattoos. "Specialists" usually apply them for a fee. This takes into account the originality and fashionability of the design, its uniqueness, area, location on the body, etc. Tattoos are usually paid for with products purchased in a store or sent by relatives, and in the dining room - breakfast, lunch and dinner. Payments are also made for personal belongings (in women's "zones" - items of women's toiletries), tea, cigarettes, money in secret circulation, or the provision of certain services (making the bed, doing laundry, etc.). Based on the artistic handwriting, it is easy to find distributors of tattoos and take the necessary measures. In the wild, salons often pay in foreign currency.
Decoding tattoos in the form of abbreviations
AGMD- Adolf Hitler - My Friend
ALENKA - And You Must Love Her Like an Angel
GAIT- I Love Anarchy With Young Love - Joyfully
BERLIN- I will be jealous, love and hate her
LEOPARD- Bey Aktiv, Rezh Suk (1950) Was an Activist for Freedom
BES- Hit me, if you can, I will. Standing. Beat, E-and Snitches
BLITSS- Take care of Love and Appreciate Freedom
GOD- I will rob again. Be careful Robber. God Will Forgive Sins.
BOWS, BORS- Was convicted by the Vologda Court. Was convicted by the Rostov Court, etc.
BOSS- Was convicted by the Soviet Court. Barbos Sucks Himself By Force
BOVT- In the military: Convicted by the Military Tribunal
BROTHER- Twin cities: (BR+AT = BROTHER)
VEC- Everything has the end
BEPA (VERA)- I’ll be back to Fuck the Russians with a Machine Gun (in disbats - nationalistic)
VERMOUTH- Come back, the only joy, it’s terribly difficult for me
WINE- Come back and stay forever
WOLF - Will is very loved by the Colonists). Thief Shortness of Breath, Cop Cover
WAX- Here it is - Freedom of the Colonist
THIEF- Waffler, Open Your Mouth
University- Eternal Prisoner of the Law
GEESE- Wherever I see you, I’ll immediately rape you
DERPN- Obscene
DP - Welcome
EVA - Fuck All Activists
DMB-89- Dembel - 1989 (among conscripts)
DMNTP- For me there is no one more beautiful than you
BUG- I wish you good luck in stealing
ZEK- Here There Is A Convoy, Here They Fuck Kozlov
EVIL- I will take revenge on the cops for everything. I will take revenge for everything on my beloved. Testament of the Beloved Father. Revenge for Love. On the contrary, the Beloved Father Bequeathed
EVIL- For everything the cops are very painful, I will take revenge
ZEK - Prisoner Transported by Convoy
IRA- Let's go cut the asset
KVTK- Kostroma (Kolpinskaya) VTK
KENT(female) - When Fucking Must Be Endured
KIS (KISS) - Indigenous Seeker of Happiness
MAPLE- I swear to Love Him (Her) Forever. Fuck every cop with a knife
CLONE- I swear to Love One (One) Forever
CLOT- I swear to love you alone. I will take revenge on the cop goats. I swear to the cops to take revenge.
WHIP- I swear not to die as a creature
CAT- Native Prison Inhabitant. Root Inhabitant of the Push (Parties)
CROSS- Brand a Turnip, If the Bitch is a Creature
LBZ- I love Zoya (Raya) more than life, etc.
LBZS- Cops Run for Death
SWANS- I’ll Love Her Even If She Changes
SWAN- I will love her even if she leaves forever
A LION- I love Her (Him) Forever. Love, Fuck, Steal! Daily Waffle Lover. I love Fucking Merry;
LADY- I love you even if he changes you. Fuck, crush, exterminate cops
LINEN- I Love Her Forever (shortened "MAPLE")
SUMMER- I love Her (Him) Only One (One)
LEMON- Loving And Suffering Alone (Alone) Tired
LIR- Love And Lattice. I Love And Jealous
LIS - Cops Seeking Death. Love And Tears. Love and death. Love And Freedom
SHEET- I love you and miss you very much. Cops and Informers Trambuy (Tesni)
LON - Shortened "CLONE": I love One (One) Forever. I love the Society of Drug Addicts (Nuddists)
LORD- Love is Given Once. I love Very Frisky Girls. Cops Donkeys Work for nothing. Cops want to work for nothing. Native Children will take revenge on the cops. I'll give the cops a job. Love the Father of your own children.
LOT- You are very curious. I love One (One) You. Take revenge on the cops (They will take revenge)
LOTUS- I love one (one) you very much
LSKCHV- Love Freedom Like a Seagull Loves Water
LTV- I love stealing quietly. Love, Comrade, Will. Love, Comrade, Forever. Cop Your Enemy
LHVS- To the cops - Fuck, to the thieves - Freedom. For the curious - H...VS...
LUCH-CHUL- It's better to die a man than to die a cop. Favorite Gone Person
LUX- The Young Colonist's Love is Strong
MAGNET- Darling, And the Eyes Are Persistently Looking For You
CHALK- My Only Love, My Only Beloved
WORLD- Execution will correct me
SKY- Don't be sad. If You're Alone (Alone)
NINS- I can never change
NKVD- There is nothing stronger than Thieves' Friendship
OGPU- Oh my God! Help Escape
OU COD- on their feet: “They are tired of walking under escort”
DAD- Hello Anarchists, Shame on Activists
PVSM- Hello to Thieves, Death to Garbage
DOG- I listened to her poorly
PIPL- First And Last Love
PLAN- Shame on Cops Auto Violators
FAST- Sorry, Father, This is Fate
RULES- The Government Decided to Arrest Everyone and Deprive Amnesty
ROME- Threatening: Cut and Revenge
ROSZIM- Russia Was Washed by the Tears of Prisoners and Mothers
SATURN - Listen, It’s Impossible to Stop Loving You
LIGHT- Freedom, Faith Is Prison
SLZHB - Death to the Cops, Life to the Thieves
PLUM- Death to the Cops and All Actives
SLICHZHVR- Death to Cops and Chekists, Life to Recidivist Thieves
SLOH (SLON)- From the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camps. Death to the Cops. From Knife. With you. Beloved, One Forever. Death to the Cops, They will not be saved. From an early age there were only misfortunes. The Heart Loves a Sharp Knife. Bitches Love One Boss. The Heart Loves One Forever. Glory to Leninism, He is Invincible. Glory to Lenin, Our Father.
SOS- Bitches Took Freedom. Save From Here Quickly. Save the Father the Son
SS (SS)- Death to Informers
SCHAN- Bitches Are Often Anarchists
SCHPA (K)-Death to the Chekists, Hello to the Anarchists (Colonists)
MOAN- historically: Solovetsky Special Purpose Prison. The heart needs you alone. One With You Forever
SIR- Freedom is Paradise
TANK- Secret Agent of the Head of the Colony
TIGER- Prison - TOY. Quiet, let's go Rob the Restaurant. Comrade, Let's go Rob the Restaurant
TMON- I really like you
CURRENT- Prison, open the gate. Secret Society of Horse Thieves
TRON - You Are Near Alone Forever
ACE - Prison Teaches Laws. Prison Prisoner. The prison is already familiar. Toilet Area Cleaner
VHF- Fuck Redhorn (Overseer) Always
USORV- The Informer will die from the Hand of a Thief. Die Informer From the Hand of a Thief
MORNING- Went on the Path of the Native Father
BREAD- I will keep the only love
HM - BIS- God bless me and fate
CHRIST?- Do you want me to give you joy and tears, do you hear?
HTKLSH- Dick to the One Who Plays Cops
HTKPT - Fuck the One Who Invented Prison
TsLIBIS- Appreciate Love and Take Care of True Freedom
CMOS- My goal justifies the means
CHAMPAGNE- A joke, or maybe just a hellish mockery, tell me how to evaluate it?
SHP-DZM!- Shawls, Boy - Know when to stop!
EVZhMS- Elixir of Eternal Female Youth - Sperm!
EPRON- Eros, Give Joy to One Insatiable One
STAGE - Excursion of the Taiga Arrested Godfathers
ECHO! - Eros, I want. Surrender!
SOUTH- Young Robber
SE- Young Friend of the Thief
APPLE - I Will Love One (One) As I Promised
CORE- I Give Joy One Day
YARDS- I Was Born (Born) For Happiness
YOKE- I Was Born to Suffer Alone
YNPT- I'm Not a Corrupt Creature
YASSSSSVD - I Ate My Conscience With Snot In My Childhood
YAKHONT- I Want One (One) Forever You
YACHT! - I Want You, Angel!
YAHTTT - I want only you
"This is what will destroy us"(under the image of glasses, women, etc.)
“And we won’t be lost on the Moon either”
"Where are you going? To the moon for your virginity"
"Where are you going? Fuck you"
"If you have never known grief, love me!"
“Wash your wife, wipe your mother-in-law!”(applied to feet)
“How few roads have been traveled, how many mistakes have been made!”(-"-)
"The Key to the Ladies' Safes"(signature above the genitals)
"The Key to Ladies' Hearts" (-"-)
"Ham for the ladies"(-"-)
"I will not forget my own mother"(traditional prison)
"I won't forget my home"(-"-)
"We went to our beloved, but came to our owner"(applied to the legs. “Master” is the head of the colony)
"They're tired of walking around the zone"(applied to feet)
"5000 miles without major repairs" (-"-)
"They are sleeping"(applied to eyelids)
"Don't wake me up!"(the same thing. Indicator of belonging to the thieves' elite)
“May God forgive meanness, but I am not God - I do not forgive!”
“Drink my blood, bitches, you’ll choke anyway!”
"Keep your head down, slave"
"I am a Slave of Fate, but not a lackey of the law"
"A thief will never be a laundress!"
"The main one in the zone is a thief in law!"
"Pity for the fraer humiliates the thieves"
An abbreviation used only by females
TIN- You or Nobody
LIYA- Love And Me
GOTT - I am proud of You alone. Ready to Surrender Only to You
ZhNSSS- Life Will Teach You to Laugh Through Tears
KIS-B-T- How my heart yearned without you
PILOT- I Remember and Love You Alone
YALTA- I Love You, Angel
In the criminal environment, there are three classes (types) of tattoos
Regalia (regalia - insignia)- usually applied to the “elite” of the criminal world by specialist artists using modern tools and scarce dyes (foreign ink, dyes, etc.). They are distinguished by high quality of design and correspond to the status of the individual and the norms of the “life of a thieves”.
Portacks (spoil - spoil)- these are, as a rule, homemade products made “handicraft” (in terms of the criminal environment) using improvised means and tools in violation of “thieves’ ethics.” They are distinguished by the low artistry and primitive quality of the drawings and the inconsistency of their content with the status of the individual in the criminal hierarchy. Wearing “undeserved” tattoos is severely punishable.
Portages inflicted in violation of the "thieves' ethics" and not corresponding to the status in the criminal hierarchy are subject to liquidation, often together with the impostor. Living with tattoos that are “not allowed” by status is the same as living according to someone else’s documents.
Impudent (or shameful)- these are tattoos made to a criminal by force (impudently) or under the threat of force, performing the function of a shameful mark (stigma). They are inflicted for any offenses, apostasy from the "thieves' faith", as well as to persons of the "lower class" of the criminal world.
Decoding tattoos
Cat- a symbol of good luck and caution; easily gains people's trust. A favorite symbol of those belonging to the "thieves' elite". It is widely used by minors. Prone to robberies, robberies, thefts. It is applied to the forearm with the obligatory attributes - a bow, a hat. Cat - "Indigenous Prison Dweller". Under his arm - “Prison is a home”, on his feet - “Convicted for robbery”, “Eternal convict”.
cormorant. One of the preferred (favorite) tattoos applied by minors. Convicted under Art. 206 part 3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for malicious hooliganism.
1–2. Five points - served a sentence of imprisonment. Explanation - "there are four towers on the sides, in the middle - me."
3. Barbed wire (twisting around a rose, a torch, a hand, a cross, etc. - in different combinations) - bondage.
4. Oblique cross ("Andreevsky") - "walking into the zone." Number of crosses based on the number of convictions. Apply from the back of the hand at the base of the fingers.
5. Greek cross - designation of the term of imprisonment. Apply to the fingers near the base or to the back of the hand.
6. The dash means six months.
7. The dots indicate the term of imprisonment. Each dot represents a year. Dots also indicate shoots. Each point is one escape.
8. The bell is a symbol of serving the sentence in full; "From call to call."
9. Prison bars “Here is my youth.”
10. Ring “The Road to Freedom” (I served my sentence and will soon be released).
11. The rising sun is a dream of freedom.
12. Torch - be free like fire.
13. Be free like a seagull.
14. Break the circle - go free.
15. A dove is a free bird.
16. Found in various combinations, especially on rings. The main load is carried by color: black - zone, white - freedom.
The meaning of the rings
Rings - symbol of serving a sentence. The number of rings usually corresponds to the number of convictions (one ring - one conviction, two - two convictions, etc.). Light color is associated with freedom, and black (dark) is associated with zone. A ring is an informative type of tattoo. It transmits in encrypted form information about what type of crime the offender ended up in prison for, what regimes he served his sentence in, how he behaved in the “zone” (he was a “refuser” or worked honestly, behaved disciplined or violated the regime , was in a group of positive-minded convicts or was part of a “denial group”, collaborated or was at enmity with the administration, etc.). From the rings one can learn about the position of the criminal in the criminal hierarchy, as well as about his value orientations and attitudes towards behavior in the future.
Everything about the ring is important: alternation of colors, configuration, signs, symbols, figures located on it. Thus, the “crown” sign in combination with other tattoos, as well as shoulder straps tattooed on the shoulders (Soviet, Tsarist army, SS troops, etc.) indicate the high position of the criminal in the criminal hierarchy. Crosses are also informative, emphasizing the high position of the convicted person - he committed a particularly serious crime, cannot be corrected, has a negative attitude towards the administration, etc. A number of rings serve as a means of replacing an abbreviation, for example, a chess ring with the sun rising above it corresponds to the abbreviation “MORNING,” and the ring “Passed through the Leningrad Crosses” corresponds to the abbreviation “EVA.”
If the ring has a name (proper name), then it is enclosed in quotation marks, for example, “Cormorant or boy’s finger,” “Cock ring,” “Hello to thieves,” etc. If the ring does not have a proper name, then an explanation is given without quotation marks its meanings.
1–3. Variants of the “Passed the Zone” ring. The bearers of these rings served their sentences in prison.
4–5. "The Road Through the Young Boy" (for the first time). I was in the VTK on general regime.
6. “The road through the youngsters” (second “walk”)
7. “Borzo passed the juvenile age” (thief VTK)
8. “Borzo passed the juvenile stage” (enhanced mode). Second meaning: “I won’t shake hands with the cops.”
9. He was undergoing treatment at a labor treatment clinic.
11. “The road to the zone” (was in a special school, special vocational school).
12. “The road to the zone” (conditionally sentenced).
13. “Passed the Leningrad Crosses” (“Denial”).
14. “Forever with thieves” (I have a criminal record).
15. “Half my life in prison” (another meaning: “I won’t shake hands with the cops” (prone to relapse).
16. “Thief” (had a previous conviction under Article 144 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
17. “Only the grave will correct a thief.” "Incorrigible".
18. “Half my life in prison” (another meaning) “I won’t shake hands with the cops” (prone to relapse).
19. I am looking for a girl for sexual contacts.
20. “Boy’s suit” - tattooed by fairly authoritative convicts.
21. “A thief in love” (the convict corresponds with a girl).
22. "Debauchee."
23. “Death to the show-off muggers” (means: “contempt for activists and the desire to take revenge on them”).
24. "Death to hillocks and activists."
25. "Death to the hillocks and activists, hello to thieves and colonists."
26. "Passed the Leningrad Crosses." Replaces the abbreviation "EVA". Another meaning is “Anarchy”, i.e. violator of the regime.
27. “Zone ringer” (convict - specialist in tattooing).
28. “Happy life” (the convict is a musical person, plays an instrument).
29. “Dark life” or “All life in prison” is a symbol of the continuation of a criminal life. “I served my sentence “on call” (i.e. in full).
30. “The broken heart of a colonist” (correspondence with the girl ended or she cheated on him).
31. Memory of parents who died while serving their sentence.
32. Defaulter on card debt.
33. "Prison passport." “I was 16 years old at the time” (committed a crime as a minor).
34. “Served the term from bell to bell” (in full).
35. “Dark Life” (another meaning: “Regular client of the punishment cell, PTK, DISO”).
36. “I won’t shake hands with the cops” (contempt for police officers).
37. “I won’t give a hand to the cops” or “Beat the asset” (identical to the abbreviation “BARS”).
38. “I won’t shake hands with the cops” or “Beat the asset” (identical to the abbreviation “BARS”).
39. “I won’t shake hands with the cops” (negative attitude towards employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs).
40. The sun shines from above towards the bars - “Freedom for youngsters” (another meaning: “I’ve served my time and will steal”).
41. The shaded sun shines towards the light triangle “Wasted Youth” or “Shine for Thieves and Darkness for Cops.”
42. The sun shines down towards the light triangle - “Served his sentence in prison.”
43. The shaded sun shines towards the bars - “Half my life in prison”, Served a long sentence. “I’ve done my time and I’ll steal.” "Shine for thieves, not cops."
44. The sun shines towards the dark triangle - “Shine for thieves, not cops.” “I’ve done my time and I’ll steal.”
45. “Save and preserve” (the condemned person relies only on himself).
46. “Chess ring” - 2 black squares to the right - served a sentence in the VTK for 2 years.
47. “Chess ring” - 2 black squares to the left - spent 2 years in a special school (special vocational school).
48. “Chess ring” made of four squares (convicted under Article 144 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (theft of personal property).
50. Convicted under Art. 144 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - theft of personal property.
51. Convicted for robbery, prone to creating criminal groups.
52. “Convicted for murder, grievous bodily harm” (at the top, instead of a cross, there may be a snake entwined around a dagger).
53. "We are on trial for robbery." Instead of the St. Andrew's cross, there may be a three-pointed star on a black background.
54. “We are convicted of murder, grievous bodily harm, hooliganism.”
55. "Killer".
56. “Cormorant” (convicted of malicious hooliganism)
57. Dollar sign - 1) convicted of theft of state property (under Article 89 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation); 2) a safecracker or money man; 3) for minors - “All life is in money.”
58. Convicted for rape.
59. We judge according to Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
60. We judge according to Art. 102 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
61. Convicted for rape.
62. The ring is identical to the abbreviation “MORNING” - “Gone on the Path of the Native Father” (memory of parents who were serving their sentences).
63–64. Variants of the ring: “The suit of the peasant is the suit of the thief” (this is a card suit that is authoritative in a criminal group. It also denotes theft).
65. “Cormorant or boy’s ring” (there are various versions of rhombuses with symmetrically located dark and light triangles. The wearer of the ring “denied”, that is, he is hostile to law enforcement agencies and convicted activists).
66–68. Ring options: “Spade suit” - the most authoritative suit (applied by “thieves in law”). Such rings indicate a sharply negative attitude towards work and the regime. These individuals cannot be re-educated).
69. “Hello to thieves” (the wearer of the ring is a “thief in law.” He occupies a high position, as evidenced by the crown).
71. “Recidivist thief” (occupies a high position in the criminal hierarchy, as evidenced by the crown).
72. “Only the grave will correct a thief” (ring of an incorrigible convict).
73. “Anarchy” (negative towards regime and order).
74–75. Ring options: “In the circle of thieves, in the circle of friends” (the crown indicates a high position in the criminal hierarchy).
76. "One among thieves."
77. "Wasted youth." Imaginary repentance for a crime committed.
78. “I can get drugs” (drug dealers inflict on themselves).
79. The wearer of the ring abuses medications.
80. The wearer of the ring abuses drugs, preferring cannabis products (anasha).
81. The bearer of the ring abuses Noxiron drugs, as evidenced by the letter “N”.
82. A circle divided into three sectors symbolizes a tablet. Abuses drugs.
83. Beetle with a black cross on its back. “I served a sentence in prison for selling drugs.”
84. Syringe, heart, flower against the background of a “prison” ring (abuses drugs. Served a sentence for selling and storing drugs).
85. “Cock ring” (applied forcibly to persons who have been subjected to sodomy. Instead of dots there may be suits of worms, less often - diamonds).
86. This ring is worn as a sign of contempt. At the top there is a “rooster crown”.
87–88. Ring options: “Worms suit” - in different combinations or “Waffler suit” (blow job).
89. The half-shaded suit of spades is the “Suit of the Rooster.”
90. “Suit of the bouquet” - prone to all types of sexual perversions (or was subjected to this by force).
91. “Chess King” (the convicted person plays chess only “for fun”).
92. “A peasant’s ring” (the convicted person does not come into conflict with the authorities and criminals, i.e. neutral).
93. “There is no happiness in life” (the convicted person was unlucky in some way).
94. “Orphan” (applied to convicts who do not have parents).
95. "Six" ("Shokha") - the youngest card in the deck (a man at the beck and call of the "authorities", a lackey) (The main version of the ring).
96. “The road to freedom” (the bearer of the ring served his sentence and will soon be released).
97. Variant of the ring “Six” (errand man).
98. “Ring “chushka” (chushpan)” (applied to a sloppy and despised convict).
99. Served a sentence in prison (only applied to Muslims).
100. “Cock ring” (forcibly impaled on passive homosexuals).
Iconic symbolism
1–2. The swastika is the sign of the rising and setting sun among the Arabs; symbols of Nazi Germany. For criminals, this is a sign of a negative attitude. to existing orders and law enforcement agencies; on the penis - a sign of an active homosexual.
3. Neo-Nazi emblem.
4. Pacifist sign (found among hippies).
5. Double letter "K" - emblem of the Ku Klux Klan
6. Marijuana sign (can be replaced by the number 13).
7. Symbol of eternal life (found among hippies).
8. The Orthodox five-pointed cross is a symbol of the Orthodox faith; made on the ring or middle finger - “fatherlessness”, on the thumb - “Death to the hillocks” - activists.”
9. Greek cross (had a criminal record).
10. St. Andrew's Cross (had one "walk" into the "zone").
11–12. Symbols of the Muslim faith.
13–14. The Star of David is a symbol of the Jewish religion (for criminals it is a symbol of a high position in the criminal hierarchy; on its knees is a symbol of insubordination (“I will not kneel”).
15. Quality mark (placed: for men - on the penis of an active homosexual and the buttocks of a passive partner; for women - on the chest or pubis).
Tattoos among members of the thieves' elite
Tattooed hand
1. Served a sentence for robbery.
2. He served his sentence in the VTK twice, “I served time as a greyhound,” as evidenced by the crown.
3. “Recidivist thief” (has the highest status among thieves).
4. Incorrigible.
5. Has 5 criminal records.
6. Made two escapes from the penitentiary colony.
7. “Hello to thieves” (this subject is a “thief in law”).
8. The bracelet is applied to those who have spent at least 5 years in a colony, on both hands - at least 10 years.
Localization of tattoos on the foot and lower leg
1. A dagger behind the boot - indicates the particular aggressiveness of the convict, a negative attitude among the authorities and activists. Such tattoos are applied by persons convicted of murder.
2. Eyes on the foot - “Watch where you step.”
3. Police cap on the sole of the foot - “Trample the cops.”
4. Bars or prison window on the ankle - “I served my sentence in prison” or “I went where there is a convoy.”
Localization of tattoos on the penis of an active homosexual
The image of the church means: “Prison for a thief is a home.” The number of domes with crosses corresponds to the number of convictions or the length of punishment.
1. Church with three domes and crosses - 3 convictions or served 3 years in prison (below the bell) - “Served the term with the bell.”
2. A cathedral with two domes and one cross - the cross means the first conviction, and the cathedral - “Was in prison.”
3. Spider in the Web - spent most of his life in prison; applied on the left side of the neck means that he was “pressured by the regime,” that is, he was repeatedly punished for various violations of the regime. A spider without a web is a symbol of a pickpocket (“pinch”), applied between the thumb and forefinger.
4. “Temple on the palm” of a hand shackled - a demonstrative protest tattoo. The number of domes with crosses is equal to the number of convictions or the length of time served. Apply to the thigh, calf, and forearm.
5. Pickpocket marker. A beetle crawling up the hand (arm) - “I wish you a successful theft.” Persons involved in thefts for the more privileged part of the convicts also get tattoos.
6. A beetle sliding down from the hand is evidence that the person has given up stealing.
7. Two tulips applied to the brush - “I will take revenge” or “Bloody revenge”.
8. Tattoo of revenge accomplished (a dagger piercing a hat, indicating the year of revenge accomplished).
9. Sailboat: a) identification mark of a thief-tourist; b) tattoo of persons prone to escape; c) a symbol of persons convicted under Article 188 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for escaping; d) a symbol of persons prone to parasitism. An aphorism from people who have such a tattoo: “I hasten to where there is freedom without labor.”
10. Running deer - prone to escape (applied to the chest, thigh).
11. Eagle with a suitcase - “Prone to escape” (applied to the chest, thigh, back).
12. “Butterfly-moth” - the desire for freedom, the intention to escape (requires special supervision in places of detention).
13. “Death to suits” - found among aggressive recidivist criminals. A status tattoo indicating membership in the criminal (“thieves”) elite.
14. “I despise the law” - setting for a further criminal lifestyle. A symbol of extremely aggressive behavior.
15. Symbol of a thief in law. A particularly revered status tattoo, indicating the high status of its wearer in the criminal hierarchy.
16. Status tattoo of the elite - “King of the thieves’ suit.” The crown is revenge accomplished.
17. Jesus Christ crucified on the cross - the crucifix is held in two hands, shackled, prisoner (means faith in the thieves' idea and thieves' romance. Applied to the chest, the front of the thigh).
18. “I will take revenge on the activists” or “No mother.”
19. Symbol of revenge. A shaded grave signifies revenge. (another meaning: “Not mourning for anything except his body and a ration of bread”).
20. Hereditary criminal. Ring - “Gone on the Path of the Native Father.”
21. "Shaggy safe cracker." Convicted of rape (applied as a ring or design on various parts of the body).
22. A lion tormenting a naked woman - sexual aggression (applied to the chest of a person convicted of rape).
23. An eagle tormenting a naked woman - sexual aggression (applied to the chest of a person convicted of rape).
24. Served his sentence in the Mozhaisk VTK (1976-1978).
25. Dollar sign: a) safecracker or money man; b) convicted of theft of state property; c) for minors, the symbol “All life is in money” (applied in the form of a ring on the fingers and a design on other parts of the body).
26. "Pickpocket."
27. Bracelet of a card player - sharpie. It is deciphered by the first letters of the name of the card suits - “When I go out, I will be a man” (crosses, wines, diamonds, hearts) (applied to the wrist of the right hand).
28. "The king of the thieves' suit."
29. “We divide the spoils in half” (another meaning; “We are on trial for hooliganism”, “Be like that!” Applied under the collarbone.
30. "Gladiator" or "Knight" - prone to sadism and daring hooliganism. Such persons are called “fighters” (they commit reprisals against guilty prisoners. Applied to the forearm or back).
31. Head of a roaring tiger (leopard, lynx) - “I growl at the law” or “Grin at the Soviet regime” (the owner of the tattoo is fierce, hates the law, is capable of anything).
32. Executioner with an ax on the Code - “I despise the law” (these persons are prone to disobeying the administration, violating the regime of the colony).
33. "Death to the prosecutor."
34. "The deer is afraid of the enclosure, and the thief is afraid of the law"
35. “Bullfighting” - means a struggle for leadership among criminals (negatively opposed to police officers and colonies. Applied to the shoulder blades, when the muscles work, the bulls begin to move).
36. Cross, head of a saint on a crown of thorns, card suit "spade" - tried for murder (suit "spade" is the highest suit in a card game - a sign of "authority" in the criminal world) (applied on the shoulder, forearm, front of the thigh) .
37. A knife in a shackled hand. "Cormorant" (hooligan) (applied to the calf of the leg, to the forearm).
38. A dagger piercing a police shoulder strap - committed a crime against law enforcement officers.
39. "Thief in Law." For a long time he was engaged in robberies, thefts, robbery. Repeatedly judged (applied to the chest, calves (rarely among young people).
40. “Death to the suits that have departed from the thieves in law.” Another meaning is “Ready to kill” (inflicted on dangerous criminals).
41. Tulip pierced by a dagger - “Death to the Prosecutor” (a traditional drawing with a long history).
42. “Pirate” - prone to sadism, negatively disposed towards persons who have embarked on the path of correction (the main burden is borne by the abbreviation on the dagger “IRA” - “I’m going to cut the asset.” Applied to the shoulder or chest).
43. A dagger piercing the throat - “The authorities are cutting” (the owner is aggressive, sadistic, negatively disposed towards the administration).
44. Eight-pointed star - “I will not kneel before anyone” (an indicator of belonging to the “denialist group”).
45. “Thief in Law” (on the shoulder) is a symbol of high position in the criminal hierarchy (another meaning for VTC students is “Colonist, do not kneel in front of the activist”).
46. “Denial” or “I will not work for the owner” (for drug addicts - a symbol of a medicinal drug).
47. “I don’t want to work for the owner” or “I won’t betray the thieves’ ideas.”
Options for tattoos with a cat:
48. robber;
49. robber (this is evidenced by the presence of a weapon on his hand - a sword);
50. swindler or thief.
51. “The suit of the rapist” is a symbol of sexual aggression.
52. “Wine, women and stabbing” is the ideal of the tattoo owner.
53. “Fortune is always with me” - the convict believes in his happiness and luck, his destiny.
54. “Born in prison” (i.e. it was written in one’s family to be a criminal, to serve a sentence).
55. “Shine the thief, not the prosecutor.”
56. “The mother-in-law killed her, the mother-in-law put her in prison.”
57. Served his sentence in remote places. Instead of a palm tree, a spruce can be drawn, then - “I served my sentence in a forest correctional facility.”
58. Direct and reverse abbreviation: COM - MOS - COM -MOS: “Old Father Prayed”; "My Fatherly Council"; "Son of Revenge on the Cops"; "The Cops Took Freedom."
59. Aggressively sexual tattoo (its wearer is concerned only with sexual problems).
60. “Thieves’ cross” (authoritative thieves impale a woman crucified on a cross on their chest, forearm, front of the thigh. This cliche is interesting because it was confiscated from special school students, who are still far from being, at least in age, the “thieves in law” ).
61. "The authorities are strangling." A hand squeezing the throat is evidence of the aggressive attitude of the tattoo wearer against the authorities and law enforcement agencies.
62. “A woman pushed me to commit a crime” or “Love for an unmarried woman” (applied on the chest).
63. “A woman pushed me to commit a crime” or “Death of the one who betrayed me.” The number of logs is the resulting punishment (applied to the thigh).
64. Executioner and woman - “We are on trial for the murder of his wife” (or relative). If one executioner is depicted - “Honor the law of thieves.” Warning of severe punishment in case of deviation from this law (applied on the chest and front of the thigh).
65. "Happy life." Before his arrest, the convict lived “good”, carefree.
66. “Vyshak” - or the death penalty has been replaced by a long term of imprisonment.
67. "The Motherland is entangled in the barbed wire of the Gulag"
68. “Given up stealing” (inflicted by persons who have decided to end their criminal lifestyle and henceforth behave law-abidingly).
69. "Fly to where there is no law and court." It means hope for a free life after release in an area where there is no justice.
70. “Hello to thieves” - a symbol of belonging to the thieves’ suit and a high position in it.
Political tattoos
1. A man’s tattoo denoting “Member of the political beast of the CPSU Central Committee” or “Party thief in law” (applied to the thigh or stomach).
2. “Lenin” (grin) - men’s thief tattoo (on the back).
3. “Grin” (applied to the shoulder blade) - men's tattoo.
4. “Headmaster of the Politburo” or “What else could I steal for the home, for the family” (on the head) - men’s tattoo.
5. “Orphan scoop” - men’s tattoo (on the buttock).
6. "Iron Lady" (women's tattoo on the stomach or back).
1. “There was happiness, but the devil took it away” (the patch on the bag is prison bars). The owner has many criminal records. The number of bars in the bars indicates the number of convictions. All plots with devils indicate the convict’s tendency to escape (they are applied to various parts of the body).
2. Easy life. “And we won’t be lost even on the Moon” (applied to the thigh and back).
3. “There was happiness, but Satan took it away” (applied to various parts of the body).
4. Demonstrative protest tattoo. Has a negative attitude towards police officers.
5. “Call me, you bastard, I’m free.” Devil-ringers are a favorite plot of juvenile delinquents (the cliché was received from employees of the Moscow Special School in 1989).
Sentimental tattoos
1. Thieves' love (applied to the forearm).
2. A seagull against the background of a shield with a stripe - a sign of friendship before the arrest, “Kents by will” (applied to the hand, forearm).
3. Shaking hands in shackles - making friends in prison (applied to the hand, forearm or shoulder).
4. Tulip in hand. “Prison passport” - a girl receives it from her friends at the age of sixteen (applied to the shoulder).
5. Memory of deceased parents.
6. Sheet (regular) (applied with a brush). Meanings: a) cut off from life; replaces the abbreviation (LEAF) - “I Love And Much Longing”, “Cops And Informers Tram”.
7. Maple leaf (MAPLE) (applied to the brush). Meanings: a) young, novice criminal; b) abbreviations - “I swear by the Cops E... Knife”, “I swear to Love Him (Her) Forever”.
8. "Prison passport." A rose in the hands (without thorns) marks coming of age (applied on the forearm, if with thorns - then on the thigh, passive lesbians mark themselves with it. Active ones prick the animal - a wild boar).
9. “This is what is destroying us!” – Complaint about fate (applied to the forearm).
10. Lattice, dagger, rose branch - convicted of hooliganism. Turned 18 years old in a colony (applied to the shoulder).
11. Torch - the desire for freedom, a sign of friendship in places of detention. Often with the initials of the person in whose name the tattoo is made.
12. "Freedom for the youngster." The tattoo is applied in a special school, special vocational school, or VTK.
14. “My whole life behind bars” - a complaint about one’s fate, a torch in hand - a desire for freedom.
Tattoos-stigmas (stigmas)
1. Dots on the face mean: between the eyebrows - bitch, garbage; on the nose - an informer; near the lips - a waffle; on the chin - “rat”; on the ear - “awakened”; on the chin - V.O.R. - "Waffler, open your mouth!" (applied by force).
2. A mark under the eye or on the neck - a passive homosexual (applied by force).
3. “I am among friends” (irony) (forcibly impaled on the buttocks of a passive homosexual).
4. Dishes with holes (forcibly pierced by a passive homosexual. This means that he must take food only from his own dishes and they cannot be washed with the dishes of other convicts).
5. Three dots on the buttocks or on the side of the thigh - a passive homosexual (applied by force).
6. "Blue-eyed." Eyes on the buttocks (forcibly applied to a passive homosexual).
7. A mouse running into the anus.
8. The devil throwing coal into the anus with a shovel (a steam locomotive can also be depicted).
9. Naked woman on her back.
10. The inscription "Goat" or design on the back.
The most typical marks of a passive homosexual, applied by force:
11. Naked woman entwined with a snake (various options). The tattoo is applied only to the back.
12. Crown with red card suits - “King of suits” – deals with all sexual perversions.
13. A hive or swarm of bees on the buttocks.
14. Brand - "Hello to the dead thieves." The convict has been “dusted”, that is, he has been convicted of theft in a colony and has been transferred to a more strict regime (applied to the chest or lower leg).
15. The stigma “Steals from his own” or “Ratcatcher” (applied by force).
Women's tattoos
1. "I trust in my angel." The condemned woman lives in hope of love in the future, and also in the hope that an angel will protect her from trouble.
2. Regret about the past: “I was innocent, I was free.”
3. A dove with a letter in its beak - “I’m waiting for an amnesty or a reduction in sentence.”
4. Handshake against the background of a bell - “Served time with a bell” with a friend (friend’s initials). Most often, lesbians have such tattoos.
5. "Memory of a loved one."
6. "Portrait of a loved one."
7. “Memory of an abandoned child” or “Memory of an orphan.”
8. Heart pierced by Cupid’s arrow - “Memory of first love.”
9. “Single mother” (applied by women with a child who do not have husbands).
10. Cooing doves on a branch - “Memory of Love.”
11. Chamomile - “Memory of first love.” On the petals is the name of your loved one. The place of the first meeting is indicated under the chamomile.
12. "I believe in my Cupid of love"
13. “It was all, I got bondage.” Regret about the lost past, when the bearer of the tattoo, in her opinion, was happy.
14. Instead of a bell, women wear a wristwatch, which means “I served my time with a bell” (completely).
15. "Memory of a loved one." Be sure to indicate the name of your loved one and the year of meeting.
16. “Thieves’ cross on a chain” - evidence of belonging to the criminal world and a high position in the thieves’ hierarchy.
17. "Thief's cross on a chain." A bandage on a hand means that the wearer has served a sentence of at least 5 years in prison, and on both hands - 10 years.
18. “Prison passport” - turned 17 years old in a colony (this is evidenced by a cross on a chain and a tattoo on the shoulder).
19. “Thieves’ tattoo (regal)” - innocently convicted.
20. I am a bandit." Indicates the aggressiveness and cruelty of the tattoo wearer, a demonstration of hostility to the laws.
21. The letter "M" on the chain is a threat of revenge - "I will take revenge on the guilty."
22. Threat of revenge - “I will take revenge for everything that has been done to me.”
23. “Served time outside of Russia.”
24. “Only for you, honey. Always remember about your children.”
25. "Waiting for Freedom."
26. "Greyhound tattoo." Borzo passed the juvenile age. This is evidenced by the crown on the head. Occupies a high position in the criminal hierarchy.
27. The most common tattoos are on the neck, chest and stomach in women.
28. Humorous tattoo on the buttocks.
For prisoners and former prisoners, tattoos play an important role and a special meaning that not everyone understands. Nowadays, the concepts of certain tattoos have changed somewhat, and an expert will help you understand all this diversity.
A tattoo with a pirate is a sign that its wearer has been convicted of robbery. Robbers also wear tattoos with a skull and a dagger. “In addition to the classic prison tattoos (pirate is one of them), there are also those that have become fashionable recently. Inscriptions in foreign languages, aphorisms from French, English, and German are very popular today. Latin and catchphrases from ancient Greece and ancient Rome are also popular,” says the specialist.
“The grin is one of the most popular prison tattoos. Previously, it was interpreted as follows: “He bared his teeth at the Soviet regime.” It has not lost its relevance today and means rejection by the prison administration. Anyone who wears such a tattoo seems to be saying: “I consider myself a criminal and am not going to cooperate.”
A prison tattoo with the image of a bear is a sign of a safecracker, a safecracker. “New criminal tattoos appear extremely rarely. The only exception I've seen is the image of a syringe. This is a traditional sign of drug addicts. Recently, there has been a fashion to put next to it the letter designation of the specific drug that the person used,” notes Sidorov.
A tattoo with the image of a cat with keys is a sign of a burglar (“burglar”). “The world of thieves has its own tattoos. For example, pickpockets used to prick themselves with insects - beetles, bees, cockroaches (ZH.U.K. - I wish you successful thefts). True, now they have moved away from this practice: it simply reveals pickpockets.”
“A rose against a background of bars or barbed wire means that the wearer of such a tattoo turned 18 in prison. Tulip means the same thing, but at 16 years old. Tattoos of young children are called “partachki” and are most often characterized by low quality workmanship. But they account for the majority of prison tattoos.”
The Virgin and Child (like the crucifix) is a tattoo that means “My home is a prison.” According to Sidorov, tattoos on religious themes (both Christian and Muslim) are now in fashion among prisoners. But political tattoos are gradually disappearing.
Thieves' stars are the “legend” of prison tattoos. “Previously, thieves’ stars were a distinctive sign of authorities. Now everything has changed: they can be found not only among serious thieves, but also among ordinary prisoners. Their status has dropped somewhat. In general, today the more tattoos a person has, the less importance he has in the zone. Those with a large number of tattoos are treated like fools. In Soviet times, for example, thieves’ stars fought on the collarbones (this meant “I will never wear shoulder straps”) and on the knees (“I will never kneel before the cops”). These were purely ideological, thieves’ tattoos. If such stars were hit by a person who did not belong to the world of thieves, one could answer for this according to the concepts. Then, closer to the 90s, many people who had nothing to do with thieves began to wear the famous tattoos, and stars began to get tattoos of lesser status. Today there is a prison concept: “There is no answer for a tattoo.” It means that if someone foolishly got a tattoo with a serious meaning, there is no need to touch him, no matter what the fool. Although, of course, sometimes such people have to answer for their actions,” says the expert.
“Rings are often struck by prisoners who are in prison under 18 years of age. They can tell a lot about their owner: for example, a black ring with a white cross indicates that the prisoner visited the famous St. Petersburg “Crosses”. And a black ring with a white diagonal is a sign that the owner went through a “youngster”. There are dozens of varieties of such tattoos. By the way, an equally popular tattoo is “One in four walls” (five dots between the thumb and index finger), denoting a prisoner,” says Sidorov.
The sailboat (like the galloping deer) is a symbol of escape. It means that the wearer of the tattoo is striving for freedom. “A huge number of subjects of criminal tattoos are taken from English naval tattoos. The sailboat is one of them.”
“The domed temple is one of the most common prison tattoos. When a person goes to prison, they fill him with a dome. When he fully serves his sentence, a cross appears on the dome. A tattoo with domes without crosses on a person at large immediately raises many questions; people “in the know” will definitely look at him with suspicion.”
A senior forensic expert at the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs named Arkady Bronnikov, during his 30 years of service, collected a huge collection of photographs of prison tattoos. Next you will see a transcript and description of the prison symbols that prisoners tattoo on their skin.
In the photo: a snake wrapped around the neck is a sign that the owner of the tattoo is using drugs. Most prisoners are either alcoholics or drug addicts. They committed many crimes in a state of intoxication. Stars on the collarbones and epaulets on the shoulders indicate that we have authority in front of us. The prisoner's pants are part of the uniform of a special regime colony, the strictest prison regime in the Soviet Union. Prisoners of such colonies are called especially dangerous repeat offenders; they may be responsible for such serious crimes as pedophilia. They are sentenced to stricter custody than other prisoners and cannot be released on parole.
Stars on the shoulders indicate that this prisoner is a criminal “authority.” The medals are pre-revolutionary awards, so their image becomes a sign of disobedience to the Soviet regime. Eyes on the stomach indicate homosexuality of their owner (the penis becomes the “nose” on the depicted face).
Images of monasteries, churches, cathedrals, the Virgin Mary, saints and angels, usually on the chest and back, mean belonging to the world of thieves and its “concepts”. Tattoos of skulls, in some places accompanied by an image of a flying angel, indicate that the prisoner was convicted of murder. The coffin is another sign of murder; the murdered person is buried in it.
The shape of the epaulettes tattooed on the shoulders is borrowed either from the pre-revolutionary form, or from the existing Soviet one, both options indicate the negative attitude of their owner towards the system. These tattoos are found on crime bosses who go by nicknames such as “Major” or “Colonel.” Epaulets with three small stars or skulls can be deciphered as follows: “I am not a slave of the camps, no one can force me to work”, “I am a prisoner, but born free”, “I am a colonel in the zone - I will not get my hands dirty on a wheelbarrow”, “ The strong win - the weak die,” “Horses die from work.”
On the hand is written “Remember me, don’t forget” and “I’ve been waiting for you for 15 years.”
This man is a Muslim. On his stomach on the left is a cult building with a crescent moon, his facial features also indicate that he is not Russian. He is not an authority in the world of thieves, but tried to pretend to be one with the help of tattoos, which were supposed to increase his position in the prison hierarchy. The lighthouse on the right hand symbolizes the desire for freedom. The handcuffs on each wrist indicate he is sentenced to more than five years in prison.
Madonna and Child is a talisman for thieves, protecting against misfortunes and troubles. It also indicates that the owner was a thief from an early age: “Prison is my home,” “Child of prison.”
Eight-pointed stars are the emblems of a thief-authority who lives according to “thieves’ concepts.” There are many options for "thief" stars. The lines inside the ends of the star mean that the owner of the tattoo served in the military, but abandoned it and went into crime; literally, the tattoos of such prisoners mean “I despise the army.”
This prisoner is a victim of syphilis, the disease has left deep scars on his face, eyes and mouth. In prisons and colonies, prisoners, both men and women, suffering from sexually transmitted diseases (such as syphilis) are called “bouquet workers.” They are also awarded military ranks depending on how severe the illness is. For example, “Kolka hung around with women and didn’t give a damn, yesterday the doctor told me that he was already a “lieutenant”” (a prisoner suffering from stage two syphilis is called “colonel”, stage three is called “general”). There have been cases of people contracting syphilis, AIDS and tetanus when they were tattooed in unsanitary prison conditions. Tattooing is prohibited in prisons and camps. The status of this procedure grew as it became increasingly secret due to prohibitions and severe punishments from the administration.
The “demons” on this prisoner’s shoulders symbolize hatred of authority and the prison hierarchy. This type of tattoo is known as a “grin” tattoo - its owner “shows his teeth” to the system. Sometimes “grins” are accompanied by anti-Soviet signatures.
On the hands is written: “Thank you, dear Motherland, for our ruined youth.”
The image of a dagger on the throat suggests that the prisoner has committed a murder in prison, and he can be hired to commit another one. Drops of blood could indicate the number of people he killed.
Many criminals perceive Lenin as the “godfather” (leader) of the Communist Party. The letters VOR, which can sometimes be seen under his image, carry a double meaning. This is an acronym for the phrase "Leader of the October Revolution", but is also simply the Russian word for "thief".
The inscription on the chest: “He who is not with me is against me.”
Swastikas and Nazi symbols can mean that their owner sympathizes with fascism, although more often they are made to show the prisoner's hostility towards the prison or camp administration. During the Soviet period, the administration often removed such tattoos by force, either surgically or with ink. The image of a mermaid can mean a sentence for child rape or child molestation. In prison jargon, the words “amurik”, “shaggy” and “station wagon” are used to designate the person who committed such a crime. They become "relegated" in the prison hierarchy after being raped by other prisoners, sometimes in groups.
The inscription above the cross: “Oh God! Save and preserve your servant... Victor,” under the cross – “God, judge me not by my deeds, but by your mercy.” The inscription above the waist “*** need and grief...” [Indifferent to need and grief].
The skull and bones indicate that the prisoner is serving a life sentence. One eight-pointed star means that he is a semi-authority among thieves. The girl holding her dress with a fishing rod on her left forearm is a tattoo of hooligans and rapists. A snake coiled around human remains (in the crook of each arm) is a variant of the old thief tattoo. The snake is a symbol of temptation; here the head of the snake was replaced by the female head of a temptress. On the right side of the abdomen is a version of Giorgione’s “Judith” from 1504: a symbol of the crafty seductress who betrays a noble man.
Dollar bills, skyscrapers and a machine with the abbreviation US speak of the prisoner's love for the American mafia lifestyle. The eyes mean “I am watching you” (other prisoners in a prison or camp).
On the hand, under the image of the skull, is written the Latin phrase Memento Mori, which means “Remember that you are dust.”
The double-headed eagle is a symbol of Russian statehood, dating back to the 15th century and used by Peter the Great. After the fall of communism in 1993, it replaced the hammer and sickle on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation. The photo was taken during the Soviet period, when a tattoo in the form of this emblem was a sign of hatred towards the USSR. It can also be interpreted as “Russia for Russians” or “For Russia without Jews, Khachas and Marxist-Leninists.” The Statue of Liberty indicates a longing for freedom, and the dark character with a gun suggests that this prisoner is ready for violence and murder. The eyes on the chest mean “I see everything” and “I watch”, this is the famous tattoo of a prisoner belonging to the “watcher” caste. An eight-pointed star on the shoulders means that its owner is a thief-authority.
The inscription on the right hand: “Take care of love and freedom.” On the right hand: “Sinner.” The inscription on the chest: “To each his own.” The inscription under the skulls: “God is against everyone, everyone is against God.” On the wrist is written Mein Gott, "My God" in German.
A cowboy with a gun indicates that this thief is willing to take risks and will not miss a single challenge. A dove carrying a branch (on the left shoulder) is a symbol of good news and deliverance from suffering.
The stars on the shoulders mark the thief-authority. The rose on his chest means that he celebrated his eighteenth birthday in prison. For the abbreviation SOS on the right forearm, there are several options for decoding: “Save from the court”, “Save from the bitches”, “Save from syphilis”, “Save, father, son”, “Bitches took away freedom”.
The inscription on the chest: “Save and preserve.” On each side of the cross is written “XV” (“Christ has risen”).
An eight-pointed star on the collarbone indicates a high position in the thieves' hierarchy. A bow tie around the neck is often found in maximum security colonies. This image was originally a disgraceful tattoo. Such tattoos were forcibly given to pickpockets who violated the “thieves’ rules” and began working for the administration; they were placed under images of cats on the collarbones. However, subsequently the connection of this symbol with shameful marks disappeared. The dollar sign on the bowtie indicates that its owner is either a security thief, a money launderer, or was convicted of theft of government property.
This tattoo is a variation of the myth of Prometheus, who deceived Zeus and was chained to a rock for eternal punishment. A ship with white sails means that the prisoner does not do ordinary work, he is a touring thief and prone to escape.
