Why Do Prison Inmates Implant Pieces of Dominoes Under Their Penis Skin?

Posted: May 1, 2025 | By US Prison Guide Team

Prison life is a world of its own, where survival, boredom, and the need for identity often drive inmates to extreme behaviors. One of the most shocking practices to emerge from this environment is the self-insertion of carved domino pieces under the skin of the penis—a ritual that’s both dangerous and deeply rooted in prison culture. It’s a topic that’s surfaced in medical journals, true crime discussions, and even viral Reddit threads, leaving many to ask: Why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin? The reasons range from seeking sexual enhancement to asserting masculinity, often influenced by cultural traditions and the psychological pressures of incarceration. Let’s explore the origins, motivations, and risks of this bizarre practice, diving into the minds of those who undertake it and the consequences they face.

The Origins: A Practice Rooted in History

The act of inserting foreign objects under penile skin, known as pearling or penile implantation, isn’t new. It dates back centuries, with early mentions in the Kama Sutra, where men used objects to enhance sexual pleasure. The practice gained prominence in Southeast Asia, particularly among the Yakuza in Japan, who inserted pearls to signify gang loyalty and boost virility, often during imprisonment. By the 1400s, this tradition spread across Asia, with men using glass spheres or precious metals, believing it heightened their partner’s satisfaction.

In Western prisons, particularly in the U.S., the practice evolved with a darker twist. Inmates, lacking access to pearls or sterile tools, turned to what was available—dominoes. A 2011 study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine documented three Hispanic inmates in Southwest U.S. prisons who carved dominoes into shapes like hearts and bones, inserting them under their penile skin using crude tools like sharpened plastic or ballpoint pens. The trend has since spread, with a 2014 case in a Midwestern prison involving a 29-year-old inmate who whittled a domino into a dog bone shape, later requiring medical removal due to skin erosion, per PMC. So, why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin? It’s a mix of cultural legacy, prison ingenuity, and a desperate need for control.

Cultural Influences in Prison

Prison culture often amplifies traditions brought from outside. In the U.S., Hispanic inmates, particularly those with ties to gangs like the Trinitarios, have been linked to this practice, per a 2013 Vice article. The Trinitarios, a Dominican gang, reportedly adopted pearling as a rite of passage, echoing Yakuza practices. A 2013 study in Australia found that 5.8% of 2,018 male inmates surveyed had penile implants, with younger men of Asian descent most likely to participate, often citing sexual frustration and peer influence, per PLOS One. Inmates in U.S. prisons, lacking traditional materials, turned to dominoes—readily available in rec rooms—shaping them into symbols like hearts, diamonds, or lightning bolts to personalize the act.

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Seeking Sexual Enhancement

The primary reason inmates give for this practice is sexual enhancement. Many believe the implants—often called “pearls” or “nodules”—enhance their partner’s pleasure during intercourse by adding texture and girth. Inmates in Southwest U.S. prisons told researchers they inserted domino fragments to “enhance their female partner’s sexual response in future encounters,” per ScienceDirect. The belief stems from cultural myths, like those in Southeast Asia, where pearling is thought to stimulate a partner more effectively. However, a 2013 study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found little evidence to support this, with female partners often reporting discomfort, bleeding, or infection from the implants, per The Atlantic.

So, why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin if the benefits are questionable? It’s often about perception over reality—a belief in heightened masculinity and sexual prowess, amplified by the hyper-masculine prison environment where reputation is everything.

Psychological and Social Pressures

Prison is a pressure cooker of boredom, power dynamics, and identity struggles. Inmates, stripped of autonomy, often seek ways to assert control. “You gotta pass the time somehow,” an inmate told Vice in 2013, explaining why he and his peers turned to penile implants. The act becomes a form of rebellion, a way to reclaim agency over their bodies in a system designed to strip it away. A 2013 Australian survey of 2,018 prisoners found that those with penile implants were more likely to report sexual frustration and have engaged in risky behaviors like drug use or prostitution in prison, per PLOS One.

Peer influence plays a huge role. “Their cool friend gets one, then it spreads among the bored inmates,” an ex-inmate shared on Vice in 2016. Inmates often perform the procedure on each other, using crude tools like sharpened plastic spoons or ballpoint pens, turning it into a bonding ritual. For some, like the Trinitarios, it’s a gang marker, signaling loyalty and toughness, per Vice. Why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin? It’s often a mix of boredom, peer pressure, and a desperate need to feel powerful.

Symbolism and Identity

The shapes carved into dominoes—hearts, diamonds, dog bones—carry symbolic weight. A 2014 case study reported an inmate choosing a dog bone shape, possibly reflecting a personal or gang affiliation, per PMC. Inmates often see these implants as a badge of honor, a visible mark of their toughness and resilience. “It’s like a tattoo, but deeper,” a former prisoner told Reddit in 2019. In a world where individuality is suppressed, these implants become a way to stand out, to say, “I’m still here, still me.”

The Procedure: A Dangerous DIY Ritual

The process is as harrowing as it sounds. Inmates carve dominoes into shapes using whatever tools they can find—often shanks, files, or even melted plastic. They make an incision in the penile skin, typically on the shaft or foreskin, using a sharpened pen tip or plastic shard, per ScienceDirect. The domino piece is then inserted under the skin, sometimes while the penis is erect to stretch the tissue, per Reddit. There’s no anesthesia, no sterilization—just raw determination and a high tolerance for pain.

“He turned green and almost fainted,” an inmate recalled on Reddit, describing a fellow prisoner’s reaction during the procedure. The lack of sterile conditions makes infection a near certainty, yet inmates persist. Why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin despite the risks? It’s a testament to the lengths they’ll go to for identity, pleasure, or simply to pass the time in a monotonous, dehumanizing environment.

The Risks: Medical and Social Consequences

The medical risks are severe. Infections are common, with a 2011 study reporting all three documented cases requiring surgical removal due to cellulitis and edema, per PMC. A 2014 case saw a domino piece erode through the skin after five years, requiring urological intervention, per PMC. “The skin started to melt away around it,” the patient reported, highlighting the body’s rejection of the foreign object. In Australia, inmates with implants were more likely to contract hepatitis C and other blood-borne viruses, per PLOS One.

Condoms are less effective with implants, increasing STI risks, as they’re more likely to tear, per The Atlantic. Some inmates faced abscesses or granulomas, with one 2019 case requiring sutures after a botched self-insertion caused bleeding, per International Journal of Emergency Medicine. So, why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin when the health risks are so high? The perceived benefits—status, pleasure, control—often outweigh the dangers in their minds.

Social Stigma and Regret

Socially, the implants can backfire. “Most guys regret it,” an ex-inmate told Vice in 2016, citing infections and partner discomfort. Women reported the implants as uncomfortable or painful, contradicting the enhancement myth, per The Atlantic. Inmates who get implants may face ridicule or isolation if the procedure fails, with some describing the act as “nonsensical,” per Vice. The stigma of self-mutilation in prison, where toughness is prized, can lead to shame, yet the practice persists. Why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin despite these downsides? It’s a gamble for status in a world where reputation is currency.

The Broader Context: Prison Culture and Survival

Prison culture is a breeding ground for extreme behaviors. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System reports 600,000 maltreatment cases annually, yet systemic failures in prison oversight allow practices like penile implantation to thrive, per NCANDS. Inmates, often young and marginalized, face boredom and sexual frustration—key drivers of this practice, per PLOS One. Milwaukee’s high crime rate, 1,597 violent crimes per 100,000 in 2023, mirrors the environment many inmates come from, per FBI.

The practice also reflects systemic issues. Inmates lack access to education or mental health support, leaving them to cope through dangerous rituals. “Harm reduction strategies are needed,” researcher Lorraine Yap told Vice in 2013, advocating for better prison education on infection risks. Why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin? It’s a symptom of a broken system where survival often means taking extreme risks.

A Global Phenomenon

This isn’t unique to the U.S. In Thailand, young men insert beads for similar reasons, per International Journal of Emergency Medicine. Papua New Guinea has a cultural tradition of penile cutting, which inmates adapt in prison, per Vice. The Yakuza’s pearling practice, dating back centuries, has influenced global prison culture, per Reddit. The spread to Western prisons shows how cultural practices evolve in confinement, adapting to available materials like dominoes. Why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin worldwide? It’s a universal response to the dehumanizing effects of incarceration.

What Can Be Done? Addressing the Root Causes

Preventing this practice requires addressing its roots. Education on sexual health and infection risks could deter inmates, as suggested by a 2014 study, per PMC. Providing mental health support and constructive activities—like art or vocational training—could reduce boredom-driven behaviors. Stricter contraband control might limit access to dominoes, though enforcement is challenging, per Corrections1.

Reforming prison culture to prioritize rehabilitation over punishment is key. Inmates need outlets for identity that don’t involve self-harm. “We need harm reduction strategies,” Yap emphasized, highlighting the need for systemic change, per Vice. Why do prison inmates implant pieces of dominoes under their penis skin? Because the system fails them, leaving them to find meaning in dangerous ways.

The Human Cost

Behind the shock value are real human stories. A 25-year-old inmate in Texas, fresh out of prison, faced penile edema just days after inserting a domino piece, per ScienceDirect. A 41-year-old ex-convict feared he’d fractured his penis during sex, only to reveal a domino implant gone wrong, per Daily Mail. These men, often young and marginalized, risk their health for a fleeting sense of control or pleasure. The practice may fade as awareness grows, but for now, it’s a stark reminder of prison’s toll on the human spirit.