On the trail of telltale tattoos; Jail keeps inventory.

Byline: Scott J. Croteau

WEST BOYLSTON -- When one inmate entered the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction, officials there didn't have to look hard to find his gang affiliation. The word "Kilby'' was emblazoned in ink across his throat.

Other tattoos take some deciphering, such as the Louis Vuitton brand symbol. Switch the initials, to VL, and the gang membership is clear -- the Vice Lords.

Officials from jails and prisons across the state catalog tattoos and question inmates about their gang affiliations. They want to know who is in their cellblocks, and what enemies they might have, to keep tensions down to keep correction officers and inmates safe.

"A lot of the time the gang member will self-admit they are a member of a gang, which gang and their status with the gang,'' said Officer Eric Scott from the Worcester County Sheriff's Office. "They are proud of who they are. They are going to express it. One guy has it across his neck.''

"No matter where he goes, he can't hide it,'' Sheriff's Detective Daniel Mehlhouse added. "That's as bold as it can go.''

The tracking and cataloging of inmate tattoos came to the forefront recently when former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with murder and was taken to facilities controlled by Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson.

Officials there were concerned by the former football star's tattoos and checked them. But such an extensive check wasn't exclusive to Mr. Hernandez.

"We do it for a number of reasons,'' Sheriff Hodgson said. "We have to make sure we understand who we have in our custody.''

Checking tattoos begins when inmates first head to the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction in West Boylston.

About half of the 1,200 inmates at the jail are housed during pending court cases; the other half are serving a sentence. The two groups are kept apart and never make contact with each another.

Assistant Deputy Superintendent Thomas Chappel said after paperwork is checked and inmates reviewed, the inmates' tattoos are photographed. New tattoos from previous inmates are added to the files.

"As far as gang-wise, that is going to be our first step to identifying gang members,'' Officer Scott said.

Vice Lords, Latin Kings, Bloods, Crips and homegrown gangs such as Kilby Street or Providence Street Posse -- members of all these gangs have been inside the jail.

Ninety percent of the time, they'll tell jail officials their gang affiliation, Officer Scott said.

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