10 Most Common Prison Weapons In the US
Published March 6, 2023
A cramped prison can raise tensions between inmates since they have little room to breathe. In addition, poor administration in prison can increase the risk of violence.
Because prisoners don’t have much to think about besides what’s going on inside the prison walls, they can be very attentive to what’s happening around them. With that in mind, prisoners became resourceful in coming up with weapons to harm fellow inmates, which can result in violence despite the fact that they are meant to be unarmed. Below are the 10 most common prison weapons in the US prisoners come up with.
Prison Weapons #1: Shiv
Shiv is prison slang for a makeshift knife, sometimes referred to as a prison shank. The term is usually used for both stabbing and cutting weapons. For example, a shiv may consist of a glass shard with cloth wrapped around one end to make a handle, a razor blade attached to the end of a toothbrush, or a toothbrush handle sharpened into a pointed tip.
Prison Weapons #2: Glock Dookie
Glock dookie is a type of prison weapon primarily made up of a mixture of urine, snot, sperm, and other waste fluids; the mixture is usually filled in a condom or a plastic bottle. Prisoners can use the Glock dookie by pinching the exit hole and pointing it at their target and squeezing the contents out at the said target.
Prison Weapons #3: Spear
When it comes to weapons, spears are a popular choice among inmates, provided they can keep them hidden. The spears measure several feet in length and have cloth strips and rolled-up newspapers or magazines for handles. This keeps the spear lightweight and durable.
Prison Weapons #4: Chocolate
It may seem unusual, but chocolate may be used as a prison weapon. Due to chocolate’s high boiling point, it will cause severe burns and a tremendous amount of pain. Inmates have been known to use hotplates to melt chocolates and then hurl them as weapons.
Prison Weapons #5: Water
Inmates sometimes use water as a prison weapon; they do so by filling up a plastic bag with enough water for it to be heavy. One shopping bag, for instance, can carry anywhere from 10 to 20 liters of water. Then, they drop it from a height onto unsuspecting victims below. From the fifth floor of the prison, a bag containing 20 liters of water, which weighs about as much as three bowling balls, would strike a person at 77 miles per hour.
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Prison Weapons #6: Can Top
The tops of canned goods that inmates buy from the commissary are often saved and used as weapons later on. Can tops can be used for slicing meals in prison; however, they become deadly weapons when folded over and paired with a cloth grip. They are often classified as cooking utensils, but because they can also be used as weapons, they are always concealed inside the unit.
Prison Weapons #7: Spoon
Some facilities serve meals with metal cutlery, while others go for safer plastic flatware. Yet, even plastic can be turned into a weapon capable of hurting. With enough effort, an inmate can make a sharp point to the plastic spoon tip and be used in a shank-like manner.
Prison Weapons #8: Zip Gun
Zip guns, or makeshift prison guns, are among prisons’ most common and deadliest weapons. In prison, zip guns are popular due to their small size (about the same size as a pen) and effectiveness. Prisoners keep it disassembled, and the parts appear to be harmless. This makes it easy to conceal the gun’s parts, which may be transferred between cells and assembled in minutes.
Prison Weapons #9: Lock in a Sock
A simple yet lethal weapon can be made by inserting a padlock inside a sock and striking it like a hammer. Prisoners often have socks; in many prisons, every convict has a padlock in the locker area. Strategically, it is an effective weapon since both lock and sock are not prohibited; this type of weapon can damage a person’s skull.
Prison Weapons #10: Coffee Creamer
Non-dairy coffee creamer is used by inmates by grabbing a handful with one hand and a lighter with the other. Once the intended target is within range, the handful of creamer will be thrown in front of the flame, igniting the fine particles and creating a fireball that will burn all in its path.
Be on the Lookout!
The resourcefulness of inmates should never be underestimated, particularly in the harsh situations of medium- and maximum-security prisons. Hence, anyone entering a jail must be aware of the various types of prison weapons that are commonly used by convicts in order to be on the lookout for them.
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About The Author
Krizzia Paolyn is an SEO Specialist with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. It has always been her passion to share her voice, and at the same time, to encourage other people to speak up.
