[Clinico-criminological aspects of tattoo removal]

The desire to remove one's tattooes in prison surroundings is unanimously recognized as a positive sign of maturity and rehabilitation. A case of attempted tattoo removal serves to draw attention to some aspects of the motives which underlie such behaviour in order to determine a correct forecast of the real possibilities of the prisoner's recovery. The behavioural and psychological analysis of the case under study confirms the predictive value of the act in that it was coupled with a real request for help on the part of the subject regarding his personal wants and needs. Tattoo removal carried out surgically is concluded to be a useful therapeutic operation with the aim of safeguarding the mental health and rehabilitation of the prisoner.