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Spring 2008

ISSN 0890-913X

Volume 23, Number 2

Categories: Spring 2008 | Law

Tattoo Prohibition Behind Bars: The Case for Repeal

Daniel J. D'Amico, Loyola University New Orleans

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TattooProhibitionBehindBars:TheCaseforRepealTheJournalofPrivateEnterprise23(2),2008,113-134DanielJ.D'Arnico*GeorgeMasonUniversityAbstractPerformingorreceivingtattoosisforbiddeninAmericanprisons.Whataretheintentionsbehindthisprohibition?Doesthepolicymeetitsintentions?Doesitpromotethebroaderendsofprisoninstitutions:toprotectjustice,provideefficientcorrectionalservices,rehabilitatecriminals,anddetercrime?Iarguethatrepealingtheprohibitionofinmatetattooingwouldachieveoutcomesmoreinlinewiththeintentionsofprisonmanagementthandoesthecurrentprohibitionpolicy.I.IntroductionCorrectionalinstitutionsintheUnitedStatesprohibitinmatesfromgivingandreceivingtattoos:Accordingtomostcorrectionalcodeofconductmanuals,tattooingisformallya"minorviolation."2*TheauthorwouldliketothankTheLudwigvonMisesInstituteforfinancialsupport.MarkThornton,EdStringham,andtwoanonymousrefereesprovidedvaluablecomments.SeveralmembersofTheBackRowseminar,including,butnotlimitedto,DavidSkarbek,AdamMartin,MichaelThomas,JeremyHorpedahl,EmilySchaeffer,andDianaWeinert,providedhelpfuldiscussion.Anyerrorsthatremainaretheauthor'salone.1IfoundnoevidencethatlegitimatetattooartistshavetriedtotattooinmatesintheU.S.Thispracticeisnotexplicitlyforbiddeninvisitationpolicycodes(likeinmatetattooingis),buttheequipmentanddisposalproceduresnecessarywouldnotbeallowedbecausetheyarepotentiallydangerousweapons(needles)andproducehazardousmedicalwaste.2Asarepresentativesample,TheTexasOffenderOrientationHandbook(2004,p.20)definescontrabandas"[AnyitemnotallowedwhentheoffendercametotheTDCJ[TexasDepartmentofCorrectionalJustice],notgivenorassignedtoanoffenderbytheTDCJ,andnotboughtbyanoffenderforhisusefromthecommissary."TheFloridaCriminalPunishmentCode(2006,p.33)liststhepossessionofcontrabandasa"3rddegreefelony."TogetherthesetwostateshouseasignificantportionoftheinmatesintheU.S.Otherstates,suchasAlaska,explicitlylisttattoosasviolationsofinmateconduct(Pugh,1997).113

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Title	Tattoo Prohibition Behind Bars: The Case for Repeal
Authors/Creators:	Daniel J. D'Amico, Loyola University New Orleans
Year:	2008
Volume:	23
Number:	2
Pages:	113 - 134
Publisher:	The Association of Private Enterprise Education
ISSN:	0890-913X
Document Type:	Articles
Keywords:	Crime control, Government policy, Correctional Services, Rehabilitation

Citation:
D'Amico, Daniel J. / 2008. "Tattoo Prohibition Behind Bars: The Case for Repeal." The Journal of Private Enterprise, 23(2): 113-134.