Canadian prisons open tattoo parlours

TORONTO - Canadian inmates can now get tattoos in prison parlours under a pilot programme aimed at cutting down use of unclean needles and the spread of disease.

The Canadian government showed off its tattoo parlor programme on Thursday at a prison in Bath, Ontario, where it is being tested.

"The programme has advantages in that we can take a practice that already occurs, and make it safer," said Holly Knowles, a spokeswoman for Correctional Services Canada. "We're trying to reduce the amount of make-shift needles."

The government believes secret tattooing contributes to the spread of disease in prisons because of the use of shared needles.

Prison authorities say rates of hepatitis B and C among prisoners are about 30 times higher than outside prison walls. HIV rates are about 10 times higher.

To be eligible for the programme, tattoo designs must be approved by prison officials and must not be gang-related, or deemed racist. Participating inmates must have a good prison record.

Prisoners are allowed a one-hour controlled session with an inmate tattoo artist.

Officials said that if the pilot project is successful, it may be expanded to more prisons across Canada.

- REUTERS