In Pakistan, there are 7,000 children in 70 jails. From observations on why children commit crime, the author offers that the core cause is poverty; 99 per cent of young prisoners belong to deprived sections of society. They do not have access to education; living in prison is difficult; the degrading and harsh treatment adversely affects the children; the environment and activities of jail adversely shape the life, psychology and personality of the child. Children are people who are below the age of 18 years at the time of the offence. In earlier times, prisons existed solely for the purpose of punishment. This perception is changing slowly. It is strongly felt that instead of punishing prisoners, prisons could also be used as places where criminals are rehabilitated and are sent back into society, as functional human beings. Tajima Shinji presents here his experience in implementing libraries for incarcerated children in Pakistan. There is a great demand for formal education, non-formal education and learning opportunities that build technical skills, literacy, and creativity.