What Should You Not Do in Prison? Rules and Survival Tips

Last reviewed: June 2026

Quick answer: The golden rules are simple: don’t get into debt, don’t get involved with drugs, don’t borrow or accept “gifts”, don’t gossip or take sides in other people’s disputes, and don’t break prison rules that can cost you privileges or progression. Keep your head down, be polite to staff and fellow prisoners, build a steady routine, and protect your record so you can move down categories and earn release. Most trouble inside comes from debt, drugs and disrespect — avoid those three and you avoid most problems.

Prison has its own unwritten code alongside the official rule book. Knowing what to avoid keeps you safe, protects your privileges, and helps you progress towards release. This guide combines the formal rules with practical, lived-experience advice.

The three biggest things to avoid

Debt is the number one cause of violence and intimidation inside. Borrowing tobacco, vapes or canteen “until next week” can quickly spiral, with the debt doubling and pressure mounting. The safest rule is never to borrow and never to accept anything that puts you in someone’s pocket.

Drugs ruin sentences. Beyond the health risks, a positive drugs test means losing privileges, a higher security category and a longer, harder road to release. Drug debts are also a leading cause of assaults.

Disrespect — gossiping, taking sides, or disrespecting staff and fellow prisoners — escalates fast in a closed environment. Staying neutral and minding your own business keeps you out of other people’s conflicts.

Do	Don’t
Keep a steady daily routine	Borrow or lend canteen, tobacco or vapes
Be polite to staff and prisoners alike	Get involved with drugs or drug debts
Engage with work and education	Gossip or take sides in disputes
Use the complaints system properly	Threaten or retaliate; it costs you, not them
Ask staff or a Listener for help	Break rules that risk your IEP level

Protect your privileges and progression

Behaviour is tracked through the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme (Basic, Standard, Enhanced). Breaking rules can drop you to Basic — fewer visits, less spending money, less time out of cell — and can stall your move to lower categories. Good conduct does the opposite, supporting progression towards Category D open conditions and, under the 2026 sentencing framework, earned progress towards release. Our guide to prison categories explains how that journey works.

Common mistakes that cause real harm:

Accepting a “favour” early on, then finding it was a loan with heavy interest.
Holding or moving items for someone else — you carry the risk and the punishment.
Reacting to wind-ups or threats instead of reporting them and walking away.
Flashing valuables, expensive trainers or large canteen orders that attract pressure.
Bottling up problems instead of speaking to staff, a chaplain or a Listener.

Staying safe day to day

Keep a low profile, build a small circle of trustworthy people, and don’t discuss your case or your finances. If you feel threatened, tell staff — there are confidential ways to raise concerns and to be moved if needed. The HM Inspectorate of Prisons consistently reports that prisoners who keep busy and stay out of debt have a far easier time.

Lived-experience perspective

Prison Guide’s founder, Daniel Hockey, served his own sentence (HMP Wandsworth, then open conditions at HMP Ford) and wrote The Secret Prisoner. His core survival advice echoes everything above: avoid debt, avoid drugs, be respectful, and protect your progress so you can get home sooner. Read more on the about Daniel Hockey page, and see our companion guides on your first time in prison and daily life inside.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if you break prison rules?

Minor breaches can mean loss of privileges or a drop in IEP level. Serious ones go to an adjudication, which can add days to a sentence or lead to a higher security category.

Is it true you should never accept gifts?

Largely yes. What looks like generosity is often a loan or a hook. The safest approach is to politely decline and rely on your own canteen and money sent to your account.

How do you avoid trouble with other prisoners?

Stay neutral, be respectful, don’t gossip, don’t get into debt, and don’t get involved in other people’s disputes. Most conflict can be sidestepped.

Who can you turn to if you feel unsafe?

Wing officers, the chaplaincy, healthcare and the Samaritans-trained Listener scheme are all available. Asking for help is sensible and confidential support exists.

For official guidance on rules and discipline, see GOV.UK: discipline in prison and the Prison Reform Trust.