35 Amazing Items Invented Behind Bars

Nathan Johnson Published 10/23/2021 in ftw

They say necessity is the mother of invention -- and that idle hands are the devil's playthings. Well, the only thing devilish about these jailhouse inventions is, really, their insane genius. Give a human being enough time to sit and observe what they have around them, and they'll see otherwise invisible opportunities materialize out of the ether.

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1.
Literal Prison Wallet. Made by east TN inmates.
2.
19th Century Carved Bone Prison Ring, Made in Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia
3.
1970s Prison Made Japanese Kokeshi Doll
4.
A crucifix made from bone.
5.
Radio made in prison.
6.
Carved Skull Beads made by a Napoleonic Prisoner of War.
7.
Prison art from Huntsville, Texas
8.
A canteen radio made by POW Brian Hitchison from a WW2 prison camp.
9.
Interlocking Heart of Playing Cards, made by a Florida DOC prisoner.
10.
Prison Made Mermaid Soap Sculpture.
11.
9 1/2″ Sabre Tooth Tiger Made in Folsom Prison
12.
1943 Colorado State Penitentiary prison art pyrography box
13.
Prison Made Cooking Device, Made by Prisoners of War in Germany, WW2
14.
Prison Made KOOL Cigarette Purse, Clutch and Case made from Folded Cigarette Packs.
15.
A guy was sent to lockup and I was tasked with cleaning his cell. I found this recipe for a prison spread left behind in his locker.
16.
Hotplate made from a brick.
17.
Some Soap Sculptures from the 1950s.
18.
Cellphone Chargers
19.
Water powered tattoo gun.
20.
German Prisoner of War Made Trench Art Box, US Camp #16, France, 1945 WW2.
21.
Smoking Pipe made in Prison.
22.
Chess pieces and board from an abandoned prison in NY.
23.
“The cross” created by a woven Winston packaging and made at the Louisiana State in Penitentiary, Angola.
24.
Toy Dachshund Made by a Prisoner of War in Bristol, Gifted to a Family Near the Prison, WW2
25.
Pruno; Wine made in prison using fruit and yeast from bread. This bag was found inside the base of a sink in a prisoner’s cell.
26.
Fake gun used in prison escape.
27.
Prison Made Candle
28.
This wrench made to unscrew windows to escape.
29.
A set of Dice made from Ibuprofen.
30.
Mini tattoo gun.
31.
Embroidered Belt made by a Prisoner of War, WW1.
32.
Prison glue, not toothpaste.
33.
Just read the text on the sign, title is unnecessary.
34.
Paper bundle used as dumbbell from Texas prison.
35.
Toilet paper, toothpick and toothpaste chess pieces.

1.
Literal Prison Wallet. Made by east TN inmates.
2.
19th Century Carved Bone Prison Ring, Made in Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia
3.
1970s Prison Made Japanese Kokeshi Doll
4.
A crucifix made from bone.
5.
Radio made in prison.
6.
Carved Skull Beads made by a Napoleonic Prisoner of War.
7.
Prison art from Huntsville, Texas
8.
A canteen radio made by POW Brian Hitchison from a WW2 prison camp.
9.
Interlocking Heart of Playing Cards, made by a Florida DOC prisoner.
10.
Prison Made Mermaid Soap Sculpture.
11.
9 1/2″ Sabre Tooth Tiger Made in Folsom Prison
12.
1943 Colorado State Penitentiary prison art pyrography box
13.
Prison Made Cooking Device, Made by Prisoners of War in Germany, WW2
14.
Prison Made KOOL Cigarette Purse, Clutch and Case made from Folded Cigarette Packs.
15.
A guy was sent to lockup and I was tasked with cleaning his cell. I found this recipe for a prison spread left behind in his locker.
16.
Hotplate made from a brick.
17.
Some Soap Sculptures from the 1950s.
18.
Cellphone Chargers
19.
Water powered tattoo gun.
20.
German Prisoner of War Made Trench Art Box, US Camp #16, France, 1945 WW2.
21.
Smoking Pipe made in Prison.
22.
Chess pieces and board from an abandoned prison in NY.
23.
“The cross” created by a woven Winston packaging and made at the Louisiana State in Penitentiary, Angola.
24.
Toy Dachshund Made by a Prisoner of War in Bristol, Gifted to a Family Near the Prison, WW2
25.
Pruno; Wine made in prison using fruit and yeast from bread. This bag was found inside the base of a sink in a prisoner’s cell.
26.
Fake gun used in prison escape.
27.
Prison Made Candle
28.
This wrench made to unscrew windows to escape.
29.
A set of Dice made from Ibuprofen.
30.
Mini tattoo gun.
31.
Embroidered Belt made by a Prisoner of War, WW1.
32.
Prison glue, not toothpaste.
33.
Just read the text on the sign, title is unnecessary.
34.
Paper bundle used as dumbbell from Texas prison.
35.
Toilet paper, toothpick and toothpaste chess pieces.