Xiao Hong, a senior high school student, met her prisoner father Thursday in a party arranged by the administration of the heavily guarded Jinjiang Prison, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Gu Xiulian, head of the leading work group for preventing juvenile crimes under the Central Committee for Comprehensive Management of Public Security, presented clothes and stationery to Xiao.

A few other prisoners also met their children at the party, which marked the start of a national program named "For tomorrow: care for young children of prisoners".

The program is jointly launched by the leading group, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and several other organizations.

Chen Jiping, deputy head of the leading group, said all levels of the participating organs have been asked to care for and help young children of prisoners to grow healthily.

Other relevant organizations have also been called upon to do their bits for the cause.

"What we want is a long-lasting mechanism to care for the growth of these youngsters," said Chen.

Statistics show young children of prisoners are prone to commit offenses and crimes for lack of family love and care.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2006)