Based in two Canadian male penitentiaries, this study explores the social organisation of prison tattooing, a widespread but under-researched practice identified in some epidemiological studies as a risk factor for Hepatitis C and HIV transmission. Qualitative and quantitative data are drawn from interviews with five incarcerated prison tattoo artists and 36 penal tattooing participants, who are also prison drug injectors, the sub-population known to report the highest prison tattooing rates. Unlike epidemiological studies, respondents' 'everyday knowledge' and experiential accounts illuminate the highest risk moments intrinsic to prison tattooing and possible points of intervention and advocacy for penal health care providers. The article argues for a sterile ('safe') prison tattooing programme to be available in prisons.

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This article draws on penal epidemiological studies to analyze data from a prisoner-driven survey measuring HCV/HIV seroprevalence and risk behaviors in one Canadian male prison. Our data illuminate confounding points of potential blood exchange among injectors and noninjectors, HCV/HIV carriers and noncarriers, tested and untested prisoners, and prison and free community members. The survey finds higher HCV/HIV incidence and testing rates among injectors, and a penal population educated about high-risk practices. This study includes the first point-in-time estimate by penal injectors on the number and condition of needles/syringes, identifying an overlooked HCV conduit: the transfer of abandoned syringe components to new(er) syringes.

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