Analyzing prison graffiti: is it a proper

method for a closer examination of

representation of self in incarceration?

Gergely Fliegauf, MA
psychologist
Police Academy, Hungary, Budapest
Dept. of Corrections
„Psychologia na rzecz bezpieczeństwa
publicznego”
Wyższa Szkoła Policji, Szczytno, 3–4
września 2009 r.
 Function of graffiti
- self expression – to tell
- impression making – to tell
- indentification of the self in a group (gang)
– to tell
- substitution of agression or self harm – to
tell
 We want the inmates to...
- to tell the truth – during criminal procedure
- to tell the truth – during court hearing
- to tell the truth – to the prison doctor
- to tell the truth – in disciplinary cases
They DON’T TELL US the truth –
representation of self
You can kill me but never
break me
Holy Mary shall help you
 Dialogue:
the guards are fags – yes, yes
they are
Symbols of freedom and
deprivation
Statement

WORLD HIDES EVERYTHING

BUT I BRING IT UP
I TAKE MY POWER FROM YOU
ALL
THE HOLY GOD LIVES IN ME
THEREFORE I’M NOT LOST
MY SOUL MIGHT BE GUILTY
BUT IT IS A REAL ONE
 Borsodians are cannibals
- a self identification in a gang
Special gang and/or prison
sign:
hanged man = revenge
Prison art on prison inner
walls
eyes: they watching us
eyes: an open eye to the
society
angel: need for salvation
pain, mask, break out
snarl: threat
opium pipe: need for rest
insects, lizard: semi-human
cogwheel: prison machinery
NB: sockets at the bottom of
the picture
Mixed cultures
 Subculture (tatoo*)

*the prisoner on the picture gave his consent to publish

this photo
Best wishes from a
releasing cell
Gang activity, gang build up in
prisons and outside
LEGIO PATRIA NOSTRA (NAME OF
THE GANG)

SOMA, LONG CSABI, NORBI,

take care of you,
we said goodbye a couple of
hours ago,
I miss you already,
it’s a pity that we met each
other at this place,
it was good to be together,
LEGIONARY
Message (prison slang),
bullying like kids
My dear Hofi, respect
yourself, those four
days were real hard,
I have 5 hours left, but
the rest is nothing,
I was happy to finding
you, my Hofi,
take care for you, and
your mom, and slay the
whores,
I say goodbye, we collide
soon, be cool,
your friend Dadu ...

Re: you are a prison snitch,

skinless and illiterate
Re: you to + and your brother
+ and your father
Racism in a German prison
White is the colour of
innocents
Huge light green
letters made with a
marker in an intake
cell
NB: small writing
striked through at
the bottom right
Polish message in a German
prison
(under the matrasse on the
bed board)
 A Czech prisoner learns
Spanish
(a paper in a plastic folder nailed on
the wall)
 Philosophy
(How can a human being close down
another one?)
 Discussion
(Analyzing PGs for what?)
Psychology: to open up, stories, traumas
Sociology: critiques on the society, subcultures
Social psychology: inter group relations, the self of the
prisoner
Antropology: rituals in prison, values
Criminology: gangs, youth crime, bullying

APPLY:
Investigation: outside relations, organized crime, drug
related issues
Prison: additional classification and separation
Prison management: staff training, disturbed, violent
detainees, operative tasks, drug related issues, help
prison rape victims
 Thank you for your kind
attention! Prison graffiti help to discover the
criminal mind
(Arabic writing in an Austrian intake
Contact cell)

Gergely Fliegauf
e-mail:
fliegauf.gergely@chello.hu
web:
http://hungarianprisonpsychology.blogspot.com/