Prison officers have been told to knock politely on cell doors before entering and call inmates by their first names in a bid to improve prisoners' quality of life.
The "decency agenda", already in place at HM Prison Birmingham, in Winson Green, was prompted by an official Government study of the jail that concluded that its 1400 inmates were not living in a "good environment".
The marks of old-fashioned courtesy were imposed on the prison five years ago in an effort to "improve the well-being of everyone in prison, staff and prisoners alike," a Prison Service spokeswoman said. The scheme is a bid to treat prisoners with respect, she said.
"First names of prisoners are now given on all cell cards. Members of the Senior Management Team address prisoners by their first names, preferred names or by using the term 'Mr'.
"We are raising awareness of this requirement across the prison, including liaison through the Prison Officers Association.
"All new prison officers are now trained in the Decency Agenda, which includes this requirement," she said.
But the "decency agenda" has not met with universal approval.
Andrew Mitchell, the Conservative shadow minister for Birmingham, said: "It sounds as if the Department of Justice will have the prison officers dressed in a butler's uniform serving breakfast to inmates on a silver tray before long."
Others have raised concerns that the delay caused by knocking on cell doors will allow prisoners at the Category B prison, among them murderers, rapists and robbers, to hide drugs, mobile phones, or other forbidden objects.