The James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna has introduced a unique program aimed at providing inmates with tattoo artist training, equipping them with valuable skills for life after prison.
The Tattoo Artist Career Pathway Program, which spans 12 to 18 months, currently hosts six students. The program was created by Larry Normile, a tattoo studio owner in Dover, who designed it to give inmates the skills and knowledge needed for a career in tattooing. The course starts with a 12-week module focusing on bloodborne pathogens, sanitary practices, and an introduction to drawing, various tattoo styles, and industry basics, including financial management. The second part of the program focuses on practicing tattooing on artificial skin for another 12 weeks, followed by six months to a year of tattooing live skin.
Normile, who owns Artistic Additions in Dover, emphasized that the program offers more than just technical skills. “We’re doing a full exit plan for these gentlemen,” he said. “When they get out, they have a complete understanding of what they’re going to do, and so does probation and parole, and so does the employer that they’re going to go to.” The program also assists in building portfolios for inmates, increasing their chances of finding employment upon release.
The six current students, who began their training in April 2024, include two inmates with life sentences and four who are set to re-enter society. The next group of six students is scheduled to begin their training in April 2025. Normile’s mission for the program is twofold: to provide inmates with a viable career path and to improve the safety and hygiene of the tattooing environment within the prison. “The goal is to stop the spread of diseases in the tattoo world inside that prison, which costs them about $2.5 million a year,” he explained.
Tattooing in non-sterile prison settings has been linked to a higher risk of infections, including hepatitis C. However, when performed in a sanitary, professional environment, the risk is minimal, according to a CDC study. The tattooing space at Smyrna prison has been designed to resemble a professional studio, with industrial features like brick walls, heating, and air conditioning, creating an atmosphere that boosts morale and focus among the inmates.
Despite initial skepticism about the program’s success, it has gained traction, with inmates visibly more engaged and focused. “You can just see the happiness, the joy, the focus—everything about it. If you walked in there for 10 minutes, you would feel the energy,” Normile said. The program will celebrate its one-year anniversary in April, with a new group of trainees ready to begin their journey.
Looking ahead, Normile aims to expand the program beyond Delaware. He said that seven nearby states, as well as prisons in Florida and Kentucky, have expressed interest in adopting similar initiatives. Ultimately, Normile hopes to see the program implemented in correctional facilities across the U.S., offering incarcerated individuals a chance for a fresh start with a valuable skill set.
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