Incentives and Earned Privileges

There are three levels of IEP: basic, standard and enhanced. Some prisons also have a fourth status ‘super enhanced.’ If you are on the standard level, you can apply for enhanced status every three months. If you don’t apply, your IEP status should be reviewed once a year, unless there is a change in behaviour beforehand.

If prisoners are deemed to have behaved badly, their IEP can be taken away from them. This is not supposed to be a form of discipline, although it can be hard not to see it that way! Privileges that can be earned in the IEP scheme are:
- better pay
- being able to access your own money
- TV in your cell
- more visits
- being able to wear your own clothes
- longer association

Some prisons also offer enhanced canteen, mail order facilities and access to the gym.

How to get Enhanced Status

The prison will look at the following to decide whether you should get enhanced status:

- good behaviour
- using your time in prison constructively
- your approach to your sentence
- your attitude to people outside prison including the victim of your offence

Unfortunately, prisoners who maintain their innocence are at a disadvantage with IEP. The prison can take into account the fact that you deny your offence - not because of the fact that you are denying the offence, but because denial means that you cannot participate in offence based courses. This has been held to be lawful on numerous occasions.

If you’re having trouble with your IEP, contact a solicitor.