The head of Jesus Christ on the cross and Skull and cross-bones.

Skull and cross-bones. Worn on the The criminal code, run through by a
a Bible, burning in the flames of the shoulder and forearm by (probably either
word “Freedom” - freedom and antigovernment or anti-authority minded
faith perished in the fire of the individuals). According to our extremely
(Communist) Party. Drawn on scant data, (possibly obtained secretly) of
the chest and shoulder. this category of criminals, (it means)
they have a talent for armed violence.
Inscriptions: “Slave of the KPSS” (“Slave A burning cross (a symbol of faith), entwined
dagger - “Anarchist.” Usually drawn of the MVD,” “Slave of the USSR,” etc.) - expresses with barbed wire, with the inscription, “Faith
disagreement with slave laws, oppression and
on the forearm, but may also in God, not in Communism.” Drawn on
conditions in the ITU. Tattooed on the forehead,
be found on other parts of the chest.
eyelids and arms.
the body. KPSS - Communist Party of the Soviet Union
MVD - Ministry of Internal Affairs
USSR - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
ITU - Correctional-Labor Institution
In the picture is the inscription in Italian,
“Submission”.

Shoulder straps or epaulettes with inscriptions A six-pointed star (Star of David) A five-pointed star and the inscription, A window with prison bars, a convict behind them, in the The head of a demon, with a dagger driven
(or other symbols), for example, and the inscription (usually in “Death to trash (slang for policemen, ribbon is the inscription, “He who has not through it’s neck, is a tattoo of
“N” - “Napoleon the 1st,” Hebrew), “We are a spiritual prison guards).” Seen on the chest, been deprived of freedom doesn’t anti-Semites. Drawn on various parts
etc. These are distinctive people. Life. Intellect. Power shoulder, and the side surface know it’s value,” - according to of the body.
decorations in the the unwritten code of prison,
on earth.” Drawn under of the shin.
criminal environment “A thief in the law” (from the
the arm.
of the authorities of glossary) is incapable of
the prison hierarchy. remaining free for more than a
Drawn on one or both year. Drawn on the abdomen.
shoulders.

A sign of quality. Drawn on the breast,
pubis, sexual organ and other intimate
parts of the body.
A medallion with the head of Jesus
Christ in a crown of thorns - revenge
upon traitors. Drawn only on the
chest.
Crosses - symbols of female thieves. Drawn An “Iron Cross” with swastika or without - A crescent moon and stars - tattoo is seen on Two, three and more half-arches resembling
in the region of the symbol of contemporary punks, expressing people professing faith in Islam. Drawn a piece of barbed wire - “personal
temple, between the solidarity with the Nazis. Placed on the on the lower part of the forearm and account of a ZK”: the number of
chest between the collarbones. However, half-arches is the number of
breasts, on the the chest.
according to a statement of British convictions, and the number of barbs is
fingers of the hands.
sociologist D. Cambridge, in the book the number of years the bearer, by
“Subculture, A Sense of Style,” using “account,” has been deprived of freedom.
the swastika in punk-fashion Inside the unclosed circle are written the initials of the owner of
supposedly loses its primary meaning the tattoo or the beginning letters of the name of the place
and is used only as an attribute of modern where they are serving their sentence.
times. ZK - prisoner or convict
A hammer and sickle over cross-bones - A “Star of David” with the inscription in French, “Everything for me - Jesus Christ crucified on the cross - A flower of lily or chamomile - association, clan. The
suffering for (one’s) beliefs. Drawn nothing from me” - is a symbol of the “otritsalovka.” Drawn on the “A clear conscience before number of petals corresponds to the
forearm.
both on the arms and legs. “Otritsalovka” - a group of convicts who violate the system’s rules
my friends,” “not capable of number of members of a criminal
and policies in the ITK, refuse to work, maintain betrayal.” Drawn on the chest. group or the people tried in one
unlawful connections and never want to go criminal case. Initials may be
straight/reform, frequent residents of written on the petals. The place
“SHIZO” (penalty isolation; punishment for the tattoo is any visible part
cell) and “PKT”(unknown).
ITK - corrective (forced) labor camp/
of the body. Often found among
settlement young people.

Portrait of the Virgin Mary with A devil and a woman - “A woman drove A tom cat - symbol of good luck and wariness. A torch - solidarity in places of A knife in hand, manacles on the wrist -
child - “A clear conscience me to crime,” “evading the law.” Can be seen with paws, a hat or top hat, a bow confinement. Often seen with the “Cormorant” (slang for hooligan). Drawn
before my friends,” “not Drawn on the chest, thigh, more tie, etc. It is thieves’ colors of a man forever and initials of the person who made the on the calf of the leg, on the forearm.
capable of betrayal.” Drawn on seldom on the forearm. with conviction connected to the criminal world, tattoo. The word “freedom” is written
inclined toward robbery, theft and burglary. If it
the chest. on the ribbon in this picture.
is drawn on the forearm or shoulder - “Native
Occupant of the Prison” (abbreviation KOT),
if drawn under the arm - “Prison - Native
Home,” if drawn on the legs - convicted for
robbery, convicted for life, if drawn on the
abdomen - “THIEF.”
The burning of a woman chained to a post - A sea gull on a background of a shield A woman sitting on a kopeck (coin) - driven A burning crucifixion of a woman on a cross - A dagger, entwined by a snake - the leader
“revenge upon the one that betrayed me.” with a stripe - a sign of friendship into crime by a woman or by love for a driven into crime by a woman or by love for a of a “suit” (as in card suit) of thieves.
The number of logs - the period of before conviction, “Friends by woman who sells herself, “I am going woman who sells herself, “I am going If the snake’s head is raised - “I began by
punishment received. Drawn on the thigh. free will/choice.” Drawn on the to get revenge for the pain I received.” to get revenge for the pain I received.” stealing and robbing,” if the head is
hand, forearm. Drawn on the chest or the front part Drawn on the chest or the front part of the lowered - “I was stuck with (had to
of the shin. shin. resort to) stealing” (very rare!)

A tulip in hand - turned 16 years old in an A rose in the hands - turned 18 years The head of a woman, a knife and a A sailing vessel - roving thief. From the A running deer - inclined to escape.
education-labor settlement. Drawn on old in an education-labor settlement. rose - oath of revenge. Drawn on original poster it is “given to escape from Drawn on the chest. The
the shoulder. Also drawn on the shoulder. the upper part of the forearm. places of confinement.” inscription under the deer is
Latin, “Free Man”.
RSFSR - Russian Soviet
Federal Socialist Republic

Interlacing of the capital letters of the phrase “Love, A woman, a torch, a snake, a skull, an ax, a A wolf and a woman - a cartoon picture The Madonna with child in her arms - A soaring eagle with a suitcase
Comrade, (Free) Will.” Often tattooed crown, a cross, bars on the window, money of a police officer. The wolf “Prison - Native Home,” “A Child of the in its talons - inclined to
on the under-aged in specialized “all things in life are fleeting.” Drawn sometimes wears a police uniform, Prison.” Drawn on the chest. escape. Drawn on the chest.
vocational training schools, on the chest. with shoulder straps, in a service cap But if the eagle has a sheep in
specialized schools, the VTK. Only convicts of authority are permitted with a badge on it. Drawn on the its talons - committed a crime as
Drawn between the thumb and index to wear this tattoo, (probably “A thief in abdomen, thigh. specified on page 117 of the criminal
finger. the law” bows for two “sacred” (things)) - code of the RSFSR (rape).
VTK - penitentiary for youths, “kicha”(prison) and cross. RSFSR - Russian Soviet Federal
from the original poster Socialist Republic

A devil with a bag - “I was lucky, but the Abbreviation of a Latin expression, “Dum spiro spero” The head of a girl - Turned 17 years Iron bars, a dagger, a stemmed rose - A skull, a dagger, a snake, a stemmed
devil took my luck away.” The owners (“While I breathe, I hope”). old in VTK. Drawn on the shoulder. convicted for hooliganism, turned 18 rose, money - spent a long time doing
of these tattoos have a long-term Drawn on the hand and under years old in places of confinement. thefts, robberies and burglaries.
conviction for committing theft of artistic tattoos. Drawn on the shoulder and forearm. Repeated convictions/Repeat offender;
government and public property. (The number of rods in the iron bars - “A thief in the law.” Drawn on the
Drawn on various parts of the body. the length of confinement). chest.

A church on the palm of a hand. The number
of domes designates the number of
convictions or the period of punishment for
the committed crime. Drawn on the thigh,
on the calf of the leg, on the forearm. On
the chest - only the church or the cathedral.
The manacles - right of the tattoo, are
acquired only by those who receive a term
of imprisonment of not less than 5 years.
The inscription is in Latin, “With God!”
An executioner and a woman - A gladiator (“Gerakl”, Superman with a A handshake in manacles - the The head of a monster with fangs, horns and a beard
convicted for killing a woman or a machine gun) - the tattooed individual is sign of friends in places of “bared-teeth (grin),” negative attitude towards the people
of the police, of the justice system, of the Office of the
relative. If only one executioner inclined to sadism and blatant confinement. Drawn on Public Prosecutor, of the administration of the
is depicted - “Honoring the code hooliganism. People with such tattoos the hand, forearm or reformatory institution, (and towards) the unfaithful
of thieves.” Drawn on the are called “fighters” (possibly shoulder. of the traditions of thieves. Drawn on the chest, often
next to a portrait of Lenin - Leader of the October
chest and front part of the thigh. “butchers”) in places of imprisonment.
Revolution, which also has an affixed meaning (the
They perform violent actions upon “the
abbreviation VOR, Russian for “THIEF”). “Rockers”
guilty” convicts and citizens (when) at adopted this tattoo in the criminal world. It came to us
large. Drawn on the shoulder or the back. from the west from the film, “Hell’s Angels.”

A genie, flying out of a pitcher - typical A spider in a spiderweb - tattoo of a drug addict. A A cross, a sacred head in a crown of A dagger, a revolver, ammunition, a bottle, The head of a tiger - “Angry at (those in) authority.”
tattoo of a drug addict or one inclined spider without a spiderweb - “(spider)bite.” thorns, the card suit “spades” - a wine glass, a woman’s head, a Wearers of this tattoo display an (openly) hostile attitude
Typical tattoo of thieves. Both are worn on the
to drug usage. Drawn on the chest, hand between the thumb and index finger. In
convicted for hooliganism. Drawn syringe, ampoules, cards, money (in toward law enforcement organizations, (probably
shoulder, forearm, the front part of the addition, the spider is worn on the left and right on the shoulder, forearm, front part various combinations) - 1) “Bardak” corrections personnel with the
thigh, and between the thumb and sides of the neck, which signifies “policy of the thigh. (A tattoo of convicts (disorder, or den of depravity) - “this is criminal environment), and also
index fingers. crushed (crushed by policy),” that is, repeatedly who have been in the Baltic ITU). what ruins us;” 2) “Decided to lead the toward all employees of the
punished in places of confinement for various criminal way of life.” Drawn on ITU. Ready to repulse anyone
violations of custody policy:
lockups/punishment cells, PKT, deprived
various parts of the body. In the encroaching his dignity.
of meetings (visitors), etc. criminal world everyone is allowed (to
wear this tattoo).
Bulls facing each other in opposition - tattoo signifies a The window of a cell, a skull, the Capital Latin letter “D,” a tiger, a A woman crucified on a cross - “cross A symbol of threat, revenge.
fight for leadership in the criminal environment. criminal code of the RSFSR along skull clasped in the tiger’s paw, a of thieves.” (probably Thieves of Occasionally with a date or initials.
“(probably “not burdened by morals”).” “I stand up for with the head of a snake run through crown, the card suit “spades” - authority) among the convicts “pin” “I’ve taken a vow of revenge.”
myself.” Drawn on the by a dagger, a guard in the guard convicted for robbery. Cruelty, it (the cross) on. Locations for the The inscription says,
shoulder-blades. Has the tower, barbed wire - “revenge on the antisocial orientation of tattoo - chest, forearm, front part “Live and let live.”
same meaning with knights Public Prosecutor.” The number of interests, desires and aspirations. of the thigh.
fighting. barbs on the wire (as on other Drawn on the shoulder, chest
tattoos) designates the sentence and forearm. Punks and
The writing above is in German and says, “Might before received for the crime committed. Rockers tattoo this on their
right.” Drawn on various parts of the body. chests.
A pirate with a knife in his teeth, an earring in his ear - symbolizes An exposed woman, entwined by a snake A crown with red playing card suits (hearts, diamonds) - “King of all Jesus Christ, crucified on the cross; the crucifix An anchor with ring-buoy, etc. Profes-
threat. In this tattoo the inscription on the knife bears the fundamental (versions can be quite different!), - suits,” passive homosexual, a man who is involved in all forms of is in hands chained in manacles, - “I believe in sional tattoo of sailors. Drawn on
meaning (of the tattoo). Usually the name “IRA” is there. In reality depravity. Weak-willed/Lack of backbone. The tattoo is rare (drawn
it’s an abbreviation - “I am going
designates a passive homosexual. The on the back), but the majority of people in places of confinement
the thieves’ idea,” “I won’t betray the code various parts of the body, usually
(probably to kill Party activists).” tattoo is made by force or by losing in know of thieves.” Drawn on the chest, front seen: arms, chest.
Inclined to sadism, with a negative a card game, but sometimes by one’s of it. People who have this tattoo or part of the thighs.
attitude toward those who are on own accord. Location of the tattoo - the one to the left are called “(cock’s)
the way to correction (trying to only on the back! combs,” “roosters” or “blues.” These
go straight). Drawn on the are the most insulting (abusive) names
shoulder, chest. The earring - a in places of confinement. A convict
symbol of good luck for thieves. calling another convict these names,
even as a joke, could pay for it with his
health or his life.
An airplane, Professional tattoo of pilots. A wild boar or its head - tattoo of a female-criminal, Tattoo of a treble clef or a violin. “Little
Drawn on various parts of the body, usually deprived of freedom for a long period of time, who violin” - the antonym of the “boar,” a
seen: arms, chest. engages in lesbian sex. The wild boar - a symbol of weak-willed woman. The tattoo is drawn
strength, masculinity, women on by the “men,” with whom the
Professional tattoo, signifies trade Professional tattoo, signifies trade who take on the male role “little violin” engages in lesbian
or career. Drawn on arms and chest or career. Drawn on arms and chest get this (tattoo). oral sex.

A symbol of threat, revenge. A “clerk” - deciphers translations from The thieves’ symbol of good A “slope-edged” star - solidarity with the Tattoo - “Outraged by the injustice of Soviet
Occasionally with a date or initials. the slang dictionary: “Gangster, able luck, strength. Drawn on the “otritsalovka,” loyalty to its codes; a card legislation.” (You) can count those who
“I’ve taken a vow of revenge.” to use (both) knife and razor chest. For this tattoo one player, playing “under interest” (one have it among the ranks of
well.” has to be an authority of the precepts of “A thief in the law” asocial individuals. The
criminal in the world - he should play cards perfectly). inscription is Latin, “To
of crime. The tattoo is drawn at the corners of err is human.”
the collarbones. In recent years many
convicts fascinated by the tattoo
started pinning it on.

Alaska State Trooper Intelligence Unit Special thanks to the United State Army for help in translating! 101 East 6th Ave. Anchorage, Alaska 99502 (907) 265-9583 1999, Jordan