evidence: Prison officers are the backbone of prison services around the world but are often expected to conduct this challenging public service with limited training. While international standards recommend that prison officers receive both initial and continuous training throughout their careers, the discrepancy between countries is large, as officers’ education ranges from a university degree in some places to only a few weeks training in most jurisdictions. The training matters since such investment could remedy the chronic prison staff shortages that plague prison services worldwide while also enabling them to adhere to human rights standards and contribute to rehabilitation efforts; ultimately creating safer communities for all. [...] This is not to diminish the importance of formal training. Among other benefits, formal training is important for staff satisfaction as difficulties with recruitment and maintenance of adequate staffing levels are common in prison systems, and often linked to poor working conditions and inadequate pay. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights recognises that to attract and retain a professional, competent and motivated workforce, the conditions of prison officers’ service need to empower them to achieve the technical capacity for the profession. In Norway, where prison officers undertake a two-year course that can be extended to a bachelor’s degree in Correctional Studies, prison officers have reported being generally satisfied with the level of education they receive and, in line with international standards, perceive that continuous and specialised education is needed in the long-term to support staff retention and opportunities for promotion.