What does a closed tear drop mean?

The tear tattoo is a deeply symbolic tattoo with varied connotations that is placed underneath the eye. Teardrop tattoos usually signify the loss of a friend or loved one.[1] Often, for a male, the tattoo is given to represent the death of a brother.[citation needed] An empty tear signifies that the loved one has been killed [2] or that the bearer has unsuccessfully attempted murder.[3] A filled tattoo signifies that a loved one has taken his or her own life, or was killed by a cause other than murder (car crash, death penalty, etc.)[2] A tear with an empty top and a full bottom means that the wearer has avenged the murder of a loved one.[2][3]

Tear tattoos, when given in prison, primarily indicate that the bearer has murdered someone, either in or out of jail.[3][4][5] In Australian prisons, teardrop tattoos are often forcibly given to convicted child molesters by other inmates.[2][6] The tattoo can also be given to commemorate a loved one who died while the wearer was incarcerated.