What is the Symbolism of tattoos in the penitentiary?

Prison tattoos really represent freedom, for this reason you see a lot of eagles in prison art....An inmate can 'escape' thru his body art, metaphorically speaking.....

The most common prison tats are 'time marks', a cross in the middle of the wrist represents a year of 'Down time' Add 3 rays over the cross and that means the wearer has done a 3 yr. stretch....Add a dotted line around the wrist and connected to the cross, and that means the wearer has done a 'dove', which is a 20 yr. sentence.....Altho sentenced to twenty yrs. the inmate wearing this sign can get out on parole and still wear it because he was actually senteced to the twenty year stretch....Hope this helps...TatuBaron

p.s. there are many many many different types of prison tats, to many to go into here...TB