Infant Safe Haven Laws

Date:
Infant Safe Haven Laws

Series Title: State Statutes Series

Author(s): Information Gateway

Year Published: 2021

File Size: 357 KB

Current Through: 09-30-2021

Download Publication Infant Safe Haven Laws (PDF 357 KB)

This publication discusses State laws that provide safe places for parents to relinquish newborn infants. The purpose of these laws is to prevent these babies from being abandoned at places where they may come to harm. The responsibilities of and immunity from liability for providers who accept the infants, legal protections from prosecution for the parents, and the effect of relinquishment on parental rights also are discussed. This publication presents a general overview of this aspect of child welfare law. Summaries of laws on this topic for all individual States and U.S. territories are available from the State Statutes Search page.

Suggested Citation: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2022). Infant safe haven laws. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutes/safehaven/

This publication is a product of the State Statutes Series prepared by Child Welfare Information Gateway. While every attempt has been made to be as complete as possible, additional information on these topics may be in other sections of a State's code as well as agency regulations, case law, and informal practices and procedures.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.