In Sweden there are 55 prisons with different security levels. There are six prisons for women. The prisons holds about 5600 places were some 6 % are women. There are approximately 4000 prison officers who work with the prisoners on a day to day basis in the prisons. The number of female prison officers has increased in Swedish prisons and has now reached about 35% of the work force. The last years security has been a priority within the Swedish Prison and Probation Service. The question is what impact the priority for security routines has on the daily practice in the prisons were rehabilitation also should be a central aim. How do prison officers think, feel and act in their daily work with prisoners and colleagues? How do prison officers navigate in the contradictory, emotionally demanding and very complex landscape that prisons are? With the use of theoretical concepts like; social representations, emotional work and interaction rituals the work culture of prison officers will be examined. In relation to the questions put forward above the questions is also if prison officers work culture is developing towards integration and consensus or towards an increased division and sub cultural grouping between different kinds of wings such as special security wings, treatment wings and normal wings. The data is collected in five prisons with different security levels. The project is financed by the Swedish council for working life and social research (FAS)