Tattooing in prison is fairly common and is a part of the culture inside, while also being a form of personal expression. It can also put you at higher risk of disease transmission and as incarcerated Indigenous women continue to be one of the groups most affected by STBBIs like HIV or Hepatitis C, it is critical to practice harm reduction when tattooing in prison, for example: getting tested for STBBIs and knowing your status, using new needles each time or sterilizing with bleach between uses.
The same goes for home tattoos. Use new or freshly sterilized equipment each time, know your status, and know that you have the right to say no to something that doesn’t feel right.