Q: An article in the paper stated that an inmate received a neck tattoo while in prison. Are inmates allowed to give each other tattoos? Where do they get the instruments to perform the procedure?
—Kathy McDonough, Peachtree Corners
A: There are varying penalties for giving and receiving tattoos in prison, depending on the correctional institution or state. In Georgia, giving or receiving a tattoo is prohibited. "Inmates who received a tattoo or tattoos would be charged with causing injury to oneself. Inmates who administer a tattoo or tattoos would be charged with causing injury to another," the Georgia Department of Corrections told Q&A on the News in an email. A former prison tattoo artist told the San Antonio Current, a weekly newspaper, that motors from small electronic devices – like personal tape and CD players — are needed to make prison tattoo guns. "You take the motor out. Mount it to a modified ink pen cap with Saran Wrap and then mount that to the barrel of an ink pen cut to length," longtime convict Victor Sandifer told the newspaper. "Break the ballpoint off the pen. Run your needle through it. It slides right in. Once you get that mounted, you pull the spring out of the pen and stretch it out over a candle till it goes straight and pops in the middle. When it breaks, it's going to leave a perfect point on both sides — that's going to be your needle." Sandifer said several substances and items can be used for ink, but he preferred baby oil, which he burned to form soot.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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