Elena Gaona

Tattoos have long been favored as symbols of identity in gangs. As mainstream culture has embraced the art form in the 1990s, tattoos have become even more prominent among gang members. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, tattoos are now common in gang youths as young as ten years old. Tattoos often reveal gang affiliations, prison backgrounds, and personal experiences that provide officers with important clues in gang—related investigations. In the following article for the Los Angeles Times, staff writer Elena Gaona explores the significance of tattoos in gang culture.

TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, GANG TATtoos are like modern—day hieroglyphics.

Gang detectives study the ink drawings, looking for everything from clues about crime suspects to signs that a youth may be unhappy at home.

"Tattoos are more popular in...