Infant Safe Haven Laws

Series Title:  State Statutes
Author(s):  Child Welfare Information Gateway
Year Published:  2017
Current Through:  December 2016
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To access the statutes for a specific State or territory, visit the State Statutes Search.

This factsheet 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. Summaries of laws related to these issues for all States and U.S. territories are included.

Table of Contents

We also recommend the following Information Gateway publications:

Suggested Citation: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2017). Infant safe haven laws. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau.

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.