In today's society, there is a greater acceptance of body modification and tattooing. However, it has not always been so. In fact, not so long ago tattoos were commonly done in prison and as a result this type of body modification had some level of stigma attached to them.
The prisoners were among the first groups using tattoos to differentiate from the rest of society with body modification, either as a sign of rebellion or as a symbol of pacts between prison lodges.
The inmates call them "tumberos" and usually respond to very specific meaning.
Depending on the reason of his confinement, tattoos can be images of saints and virgins, crosses and figures of Christ and the devil accused in cases of rape. Doves, flowers, stars or palms are tattoos that identify prisoners’ peaceful, atheists and agnostics. The name of the woman he loved was on his chest tattoo as a kind of emotional. Birds of prey and hunting wild animals are tattooed with images which prisoners express their toughness, courage and aggressiveness. The skulls show that the prisoner does not hesitate to kill anyone who gets in his way. Tattoos are used to differentiate sex. In heterosexuals, such as bold and figures tend to confirm the virility of the wearer. In the case of homosexuals, the most common pattern is two butterflies together.
Prison tattoos are done with crude tools due to the inability of prisoners to access new technologies for the tattoo. As done in certain cultures, prison tattoo art is passed from one inmate to another under the guise of master and apprentice. The machine they use consists of a small motor radius, which shows a pen, a fork or knife with strings or wires attached. The engine causes the element to move sharp as needles of the sewing machine and out of the skin. The pigment is generally used; the ink is China made or from the Bic pens.
The most dangerous prisoners used tattoos as a form of expression threatened against the established order. Prison Tattoos metaphorically demonstrate and reinforce family ties (racial groups, gangs, etc.). These tattoos express aggression or senior who give the orders within the circle of the inmates.
