Top tattoos of Missouri prison inmates

By Greg Reeves
The Kansas City home invasion reported today in which one of the robbers had "KC" tattooed on his neck caused us to look up the most popular tattoos of Missouri prison inmates. See our previous post on the robberies.
We happen to have that data from the Missouri Department of Corrections, though it's somewhat old (1997). Later versions of the department's data omitted the tattoo descriptions.

Here are the most popular inmate tattoos:

Comments

[GULC Law]

I like that "REEPER" is seperate from "GRIM REAPER." Maybe it's a typo and it should read "REEFER."

[Bruce Dickinson]

FARK time. Bullet wound? Sure those aren't scars? cause, i mean, if reeper is separate from Grim Reaper, maybe scars are merged in there or something. All I know is my brother has a Scorpion, a Skull, a Dollar sign and a Teddy Bear.

[Tim]

What a stupid ass survey. How is this information important at all? I guess if I ever went to prison, I would know what all the "popular" tattoos were in order to fit in. Oh and "bunny"??? BUNNY? Who the hell did this survey? A woman?

[Kardargo]

I have a feeling that "BUNNY" means playboy bunny. Its a very popular tattoo among the ladies. Note that they did not specify gender, these are stats from all inmates; male and female.

[Drama]

There is an ongoing study in Russia regarding prison tatooing and it's meaning in the criminal underworld. It is much more like Yakuza tattooing in that it specifically identifies the criminal as such. I am guessing this is not the case here in the states? Unless Unicorns are specifically from women's prisons...

[arodisatool]

I believe that the unicorn tattoo indicates that you are a "bitch". Ouch.

[mrvetinari]

I like the four 'wtf?' entries in a row. Unicorn - Star - Wizard - Bunny. It is like a gay D&D group got picked up for loitering and skewed the sample.

[Jessamine]

Really, anyone want to clarify what the hell "reeper" is supposed to be?

[RockerDown]

My take on the bunny is that it's the playboy bunny. Surprisingly not on here are the real most popular tattoos. Cobwebs on the elbows, tears on the eyes, and swastikas. If I am giving up too much of my personal history tell me to shut up any time.

Cobwebs = Doing time

Tears = # of tears correlates with number of people tattoo-ee has killed.

Swastikas are self explanatory, but just try and be a non-racist white guy in prison and see how long you live. Some pretty non-racist people have swastikas all over just to survive.

[john]

This is retarded
the coolest tatoo is of hairy bunny balls!

[jarold]

so glad the questionaire floats in front of the article, things like this identify to me the sites that don't want my viewership

[a person]

Cross, rose and heart are 1-2-3... I think that's sweet.

[ryno]

some of the most artistic skin art ive seen was done under the pressure of being caught by the man and risking various consequences not only for the customer but especially for the artist and also threat of a shakedown of the housing unit where the crime was being done. meaning the hidden contraband of up to 18 inmates in direct jeopardy.and tickets along with confiscation of these items prized and sacred to all races.

[jackson]

the playboy bunny represents
a gang playboy gangster crip or vice lords
it has a meaning to it playboy bunny for vice lords means they r clean cool "well dressed" the bunny to the crips means everything they are afiliated with folk nation

[karen allred]

Can you give me any info on the 1985 or 1986 murder of a "Settlemyer" youth killed by
JOHN WILLIAMS
in Lawrence, KS?

[Christopher]

I personally think that REEPER tattoos are afiliated with Death coming soon, around the corner, waiting. Maybe b/c of smoking? Reefer/ Reeper notice; most inmates smoke. I personally like my tattoo of initials near my elbow, on my forearm. More sentimental...

[Ron]

sport666

[Difoul]

Hi,
You're talking about inmates tatoo. I'm looking for a tatoo that I saw in a magazine couple years ago. The tatoo represents a Playboy Bunny caracter with shades dress in a black suit.
If I remember, this tatoo was on the body of a LA gang leader.
What I need is the picture of that tatoo.
Thanks

[Carol]

What does a black unicorn with a red long stem rose in front of the unicorn mean? Is there a special state that use this?

[Chunk]

I tell you what Mr. reporter man, you want the inside scoop on Missouri prison gangs, I'll give you some insight, I'm a Lt. in a missouri prison based crew, and for all these little blog happy fucks that never do shit but talk, I've put steel through someone, I've beat down kiddy rapers,and to tell you the truth, no offense, but you don't know what the fuck is really goin' on, we're your neighbors, we're your kid's, and just because it starts in prison, doesen't mean we're not pickin' up soldiers on the bricks, oh, I mean the streets for your' 99.99% lame ass audiance. You want to be the first to have the real scoop, gimme a holler, but if you'de rather sound like you have no idea, thats cool too. And another thing, you're little tattoo chart was amusing, I've done thousands of tatts in prison and I've got about 13 from prison and none of them are that gay ass shit you had on there! LoL

bruce- the bullet wound would be a tattoo meant to look like a fresh wound not a scar of one.
(there used to be kid at blockbuster with one... what a nut)

[gblue3]

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