Underage Tattoo Sanctioned by Family for 10 Year Old

10-year-old gets 'family' tattoo

By Kaitlyn Ross

In the Garrison family, it's a tradition.

"He got his initials out there on the right leg at the very bottom," said Jerry Garrison.

All of the family members have their initials in ink.

So when Jerry Garrisson's 10 year old grandson wanted his initials tattooed on his leg...

"I didn't see why a tattoo was such a big issue to begin with, and I didn't see where none of this was right,' he said.

Garrisson says the Florida Department of Children and Families came to his Jacksonville home with another concern, and when they saw his grandson's tattoo, they told him it was a problem.

Because of other allegations, DCF placed his grandkids in foster care.

"My little son called me and said, Dad, I'm so scared, I want to come home so bad. When you have your youngin' call and tell you he's scared. I want to go put my arms around him and say son, it's all right, it's really all right. But no, I can't," he said.

He thinks the tattoo played a role in DCF removing his grandkids, and doesn't know how to fix it.

"I ain't never been in pain like this, it's the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. In my whole entire life," he said.

Department of Children and Families Spokesman John Harrell says it wasn't the tattoo, but additional allegations that had the children removed.

"When you get in to cases like this, is the child being abused? Is the child at risk? Are the actions of the parents putting the child at risk," said Harrell.

Legally, the tattoo isn't DCF's call.

But in the business for 20 years, tattoo artist Todd Lake says it's just wrong.

"We'll tattoo down to the age of 16, don't really like to do that," said Lake.

Lake says legally the standards in Florida have changed in the past year.

"Under the old law, I believe you probably could bring your kid in, legally, with notarized parental consent. But right now it's probably a big gray area in the law. So that's a tough case," said Lake.

The law did change in 2012.

Previous to the new law, it was legal to tattoo a child with expressed parental consent.

Under the new law, a child under the age of 16 cannot be tattooed unless it is for medical or dental reasons.

It is a misdemeanor for the tattoo artist, not for the guardian of the child.

Children 16-18 can be tattooed with parental consent.

And once a person turns 18, it's their choice.

No arrests have been made in this case.

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Inflicting Ink is a Rhode Island Tattoo Studio that embodies quality, consistency and pride, and offers a sterile, safe, comfortable, artistic environment to its customers.  Nominated multiple times for the Best Tattoo Parlor in Rhode Island and Best Tattoo Artist in RI.

You may contact them for an appointment for a tattoo at (401) 683-5680 and of course walk-ins are always welcome.

For more information, please visit our home page at www.inflictinginktattoo.com.

Underground Unlicensed Tattoo Artist Charged in NH

A local newspaper article that RI tattoo artist and Inflicting Ink owner Jeff Goyette found interesting concerning unlicensed, underground illegal tattooing is posted below.

Illegal Tattoo Artist Faces New Charges

May 7th, 2009

Police File New Charges Against Illicit Tattoo Artist

By Andrew Wolfe

NASHUA, NH – Police have brought additional charges against a woman accused of tattooing minors in an unlicensed, underground tattoo parlor in her apartment, detectives reported Wednesday.

Ronalda Brunner-Cummings, 45, of 1 Burns Hill Road, building 3, apt. 37, Hudson, has been jailed since her arrest late last month, unable to post $1,000 bail, Detective Lt. Jeff Bukunt said this morning.

Police charge she had been running an illicit tattoo parlor out of her former apartment at 25 Tolles St., using equipment she bought online, and offering low quality, cut-rate tattoos, at about $30 to 40 each.

Police searched her Hudson home and seized her tattooing equipment on April 29, and on Tuesday, Brunner-Cummings was arrested and arraigned in Nashua District Court on several more misdemeanor charges, Bukunt said.

In addition to endangering the welfare of two 15-year-olds, Brunner-Cummings is also charged with tattooing without a license, and tattooing minors, both also misdemeanors, Bukunt said.

Tattoo shops are highly regulated by state law (RSA 314-A), and it is illegal to operate one without a license in New Hampshire, and illegal to tattoo persons younger than 18.

“Even if parents said it was okay for their kids to get a tattoo, it’s illegal,” Bukunt said.

“Although the tattoos were of poor quality the bigger concern were the health risks,” Bukunt said. “Any time you’re dealing with needles, there’s obviously a risk (of infectious disease).”

Licensed tattoo shops are required to know and abide by safety regulations, including using disposable ink containers, tubes and needles. Brunner-Cummings has never been licensed, nor applied for a tattoo license, in New Hampshire, Bukunt said, and police have been unable to verify what sort of health protocols she followed, if any, he said.

Police have identified four teens tattooed by Brunner-Cummings, but two of the families declined to cooperate in prosecuting charges against her, Bukunt said.

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Inflicting Ink is a Rhode Island Tattoo Studio that embodies quality, consistency and pride, and offers a sterile, safe, comfortable, artistic environment to its customers.  Nominated multiple times for the Best Tattoo Parlor in Rhode Island and Best Tattoo Artist in RI.

You may contact them for an appointment for a tattoo at (401) 683-5680 and of course walk-ins are always welcome.

For more information, please visit our home page at www.inflictinginktattoo.com.