Safe Haven Legislation(By State) |
If
you've just had an unwanted baby,
Don't Panic!
A new law is in place to protect you from prosecution if you leave the baby at a "Safe Place".
Also known as "Baby Moses", "Safe Place for Newborns", "Baby Safe Haven", "Safe Arms for Newborns"
Please select your state to find a safe haven for your baby. Select Your State:
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | up to 72
hours | EMS Provider | Affirmative
defense |
A
Secret Safe Place for Newborns - If you've just had an
unwanted baby, Don't Panic! In Alabama Call (251) 431-5111
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| None Yet |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 72
hours | Caregiver, including Church |
Affirmative Defense |
Tuscan Safe Baby Program If you're pregnant and about to give birth and nobody knows, you need to know there is help for you. This site will list phone numbers and hospitals across the state.
View the legislation in Arizona
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 30
days | Medical Providers or Police Dept. |
Affirmative Defense |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
|
2001
| Up to 72
hours | Hospital Emergency Rooms |
Immunity |
Garden
of Angels, Inc. and Safe Arms for Newborns P.O. Box 1776
Yucaipa Ca 92399
Tel: (909) 446-0535
Fax (909) 446-0583,
E-mail:debi@gardenofangels.org
Project
Cuddle, Inc.
2973 Harbor Blvd., #326
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Tel: 714-432-9681
Toll Free Hotline: 1-888-6-CUDDLE
E-mail: info@projectcuddle.org
Project Cuddle not only helps find safe, legal options instead of abandonment, but also share information about the law in your state and offer volunteers, medical help, shelter, homestudy, ready adoptive families, and more.
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 30
days | Emergency Room or Fire Dept. |
Affirmative Defense |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
|
October 2000
| Up to 30
days | Hospital Emergency Room |
Affirmative Defense |
Dial Infoline - 211
Or Contact DCF (Department of Children & Families)
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 72
hours | Hospital or Fire Dept. |
Affirmative Defense |
A
Safe Haven for Newborns
24 HOUR HELPLINE: 1-877-767-BABY
E-Mail: safehaven@asafehavenfornewborns.com
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| May 15, 2002 | no more than one week old | 'Medical facility'
shall mean any licensed general or specialized hospital, institutional infirmary,
health center operated by a county board of health, or facility where human births
occur on a regular and ongoing basis which is classified by the Department of
Human Resources as a birthing center, but shall not mean physicians´ or
dentists´ private offices. | shall not be prosecuted |
'Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002'
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| None Yet |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 30
days | Medical Provider | Immunity |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | unharmed infant under 72 hours old | Hospitals, Staffed Fire Stations, police departments and Emergency Care facilities | The state promises anonymity
to the relinquishing parent(s) and guarantees of Immunity from prosecution for the parent that complies with the law. |
Save
Abandoned Babies Foundation
Save Abandoned Babies Foundation
55 E. Erie Street, #2905, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone 312-440-0229
Fax 312-400-0805
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 30
days | EMS Provider | Affirmative
Defense |
Newborn
Lifeline Network, Inc.
P.O. Box 220, Pekin, Indiana 47165
Office Phone Number: 1-812-967-1234
E-mail: newbornlifeline@hotmail.com
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 14
days | Hospital or Emergency Room |
Immunity |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 45
days | Hospital, Fire Dept., Health Depts. |
Affirmative Defense |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
|
April 2002
|
Baby should be within the 72 hours age
|
With the law passage, mother's can also take babies
to a fire station, police station or EMS. In KY hospitals are not
always near and although Secret Safe Haven states that a baby should
be taken to a hospital, there are cases that a mother can not reach
a hospital so the other safe places do work. |
affirmative defense
|
Secret Safe Haven
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 30
days |
EMS provider, and although that is one way to
relinquish a child, a parent can also chose to relinquish their
infant (less than 30 days old) to any person at a Licensed Hospital
in Louisiana, Public Health Unit, Medical Clinic, Fire Station,
Police Station, Pregnancy Crisis Center, and Child Advocacy Center
| Affirmative
Defense |
DSS/
Office of Community Services
State Office
phone: (225) 342-6840
fax: (225) 342-9087
email: abruneau@dss.state.la.us
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| March 22, 2002 | Under 31 days | Emergency Room of a hospital, or a firefighter, police officer, medical services provider or hospital staff member. | Affirmative Defense |
| Year Enacted |
Age of Child |
Safe Haven Location |
Prosecution? |
| May 16, 2002 | Up to 3 days old | Any responsible adult such as a priest, preacher, lawyer or family physician, a hospital, fire dept., etc. The responsible adult shall take the child to a hospital. | Immunity from prosecution |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| July 2004 | newborns 7 days and under | hospitals, police and fire stations | Immunity from Prosecution |
babysafehavenyes.org
Call Toll FREE Crisis Line 1-877-796-HOPE (4673)
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 72
hours | EMS Provider | Affirmative
Defense |
Safe Delivery A toll-free, 24-hour telephone line has been established to provide information on services available to a prospective parent. Call Toll FREE 1-866-733-7733
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 72
hours | Hospital | Immunity |
Safe
Place for Newborns No one knew you were pregnant. Now you
have a baby - and you don't know what to do. Don't panic - there is a
Safe Place for your newborn. Toll FREE Crisis Hotline 1-877-440-2229
Safe Place for Newborns
120 S 6th St Ste 1150
Minneapolis, MN 55402
612.317.2895
612.317.2899 - fax
lkrupp@safeplacefornewborns.com
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 72
hours | EMS Provider | Affirmative
Defense |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 7/2002 | Up to
30 days old | Custody of a hospital staff member,
firefighter, emergency medical technician or law enforcement officer |
will not face criminal charges, as long as the child has not been abused or neglected. |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 30
days | Hospital, Police Dept. or Fire Dept. |
Immunity |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
|
None yet
|
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 30
days | Hospital, Fire Dept., or Police Dept. |
Affirmative Defense |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| June 2003 | up to 7 days old | a hospital or any medical facility, a church or church building, a police or fire station, or a 911 responder at an agreed transfer location | There is immunity from prosecution. |
| Year Enacted |
Age of Child |
Safe Haven Location |
Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 30
days | Hospital Emergency Room |
Affirmative Defense |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 90
days | Hospital | Affirmative
Defense |
| Year Enacted |
Age of Child |
Safe Haven Location |
Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 5
days | Any Caregiver-See below |
Affirmative Defense |
A safe haven in the State of New York is any responsible person willing to receive a newborn unharmed within 5 days and call the appropriate authority (911) for medical treatment and transportation to a hospital. -OR-
You may bring your newborn to any fire station, police station, hospital -OR-
Call AMT
Children of Hope Foundation
1-877-796-HOPE (4673)
If you would like to discreetly and anonymously chat with someone online, use AOL instant messenger:
LIHotline (Crisis Counselor from the Long Island Crisis Center)
NYSafeHaven (Safe Haven pick-up team member on duty)
Office of Children and Family Services has
established a
toll-free hot line at 1-866-505-7233
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| Year Enacted |
Age of Child |
Safe Haven Location |
Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 1
Year | Hospital | Affirmative
Defense |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 72
hours | EMS, Police Dept., Hospital |
Immunity |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 7
days | Hospital, Police Dept. or Fire Dept. |
Affirmative Defense |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| Act 201 of 2002, also known as The Newborn Protection Act | A newborn is defined by this act as a child less than 28 days of age as reasonably determined by a physician. | A parent of a newborn may leave the child in the care of a hospital
providing:
* The parent expresses orally or through conduct that they intend * The newborn is not a victim of child abuse or criminal conduct.
|
Parent will not be held criminally liable. |
A
Hand to Hold
Call for help 1-888-978-BABY
PA
Department of Public Welfare
hotline for Safe Haven in Pennsylvania
866-921-SAFE (7233)
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 30
days | Hospital | Immunity |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 60
days | EMS Provider | Immunity |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| July 1, 2001 | An unharmed newborn of 72 hours or less | May be surrendered by the birth mother at a designated Secret Safe Place facility. These are defined by our law as a hospital, community health clinic, or "walk-in" clinic. | The mother will not be prosecuted providing she follows the previous guidelines. |
A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of TN, Inc.
(865) 254-2208 Office number
(865) 982-4224 HELPLINE 24 hours/ 7
days per week.
P.O. Box 4276 Maryville, TN 37802-4276.
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 1999 | Up to 30
days | EMS Provider | Immunity |
The
Baby Moses Project
P.O. Box 4642 Victoria, Texas 77903
Project Director Justin Unruh
Phone: (361) 578-6694
Fax: (361) 579-0408
Email: bmp@babymoses.org
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 30
days | Hospital | Immunity |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| None Yet |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| April 3, 2002 | 72 Hours or less | Hospital Emergency Room or Fire Department with active personnel | not subject to criminal liability |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2000 | Up to 72
hours | Hospital | Affirmative
Defense |
| Year
Enacted | Age
of Child | Safe
Haven Location | Prosecution? |
| 2001 | Up to 72
hours | EMS, Police Dept Hospital |
Affirmative Defense |
|
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