Step from prison to accept first of awards (5)
I believe the answer is:
stair
'step' is the definition.
('stair' can be a synonym of 'step')
'prison to accept first of awards' is the wordplay.
'prison' becomes 'stir' (informal term for prison).
'to accept' is an insertion indicator.
'first of' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'awards' is 'a'.
'stir' going around 'a' is 'STAIR'.
'from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for stair that I've seen before include "Bit of a flight!" , "Support on which to step" , "something of a case" , "Tarsi (anag)" , "Flight unit" .)