Scott J. Croteau, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
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 corrections 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 sentences. 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.
Other times the jail will reach out to other police departments, jail officials or law enforcement agencies elsewhere to determine if someone is a gang member.
"If we knew someone is coming in and just committed a murder of a rival gang member, when he comes in we are going to try to keep him as far away from those rival gang members," Officer Scott said.
Rivals inside jail walls might already know that person is coming, through news reports, families or mail.
There are minimum, medium and maximum facilities at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction. Minimum is for incarcerated inmates. A classification review determines where others are housed.
It is a delicate balance when dealing with gangs. Jail officials keep track daily of inmates on certain blocks. They don't want too many of one gang on a block, and they have to keep enemies apart.
Too many members of one gang in a certain block can lead to intimidation, Sheriff Hodgson pointed out.
"It is strength in numbers," said Officer Scott, who works in the two highest-risk areas. "The more numbers they have in a specific block, the more control they have."
Gangs will recruit to gain numbers in the jail. White gangs such as the Four Horsemen are particularly aggressive in recruiting. A new tattoo on an inmate could show they joined up behind prison walls.
The jail gang units and detectives constantly attend classes and conferences on identifying gangs.
Sharing information with local police and other jails is important. Officers working the cellblocks also keep in constant contact with supervisors and detectives.
"In order to ensure the care, custody and control of all inmates and detainees at the Middlesex Sheriff's Office we have a number of proactive measures in place," a Middlesex Sheriff's Office spokesman said
"When an individual in our custody is identified as a gang member we take steps to separate them from members of rival gangs. We also train staff members to be able to identify gang members and are in constant contact with our colleagues at local, county and state agencies to share information and intelligence."
Local police have intelligence on feuds, enemies and players in specific gangs. Detective Mehlhouse rides with Worcester police officers in the gang unit once a week to share information and learn about gang members on the city streets.
"It's all about us sharing the information," said Worcester Sgt. Stephen L. Roche of the gang unit. "Dan will help us identify kids on the street."
Local police, federal authorities and correction facilities do have programs geared at helping inmates for several issues and do work to get people out of the gang life.
Some gang members may change affiliation to stay safe in jail, but go back to their original set once they get out.
Other rival gang members may watch one another's backs in jail as well, but upon release the rivalry returns.
"If there are any ongoing issues from the streets they are going to filter in here, and vice versa," Detective Mehlhouse said. "That information is vital to get out."
Jail officials keep close watch on tensions in the blocks or in the courtyard. Sometimes they can feel tensions arise. Cells are regularly checked for weapons fashioned out of plastic trays or toothbrushes. Metal detectors are used in the courtyards.
"It is a kind of give respect, get respect kind of thing," Officer Scott said. "If we are in the middle of the yard, sometimes you can feel something is going to happen. If you can get a good rapport with someone who is a leader in a gang you could squash something that is going to happen."
Contact Scott J. Croteau at scroteau@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottCroteauTG
