Safe Haven Law
What is Safe Haven?
Safe Haven (Safe Arms for Babies in Delaware) gives mothers a safe, legal and confidential alternative to abandoning their baby. Pennsylvania and Delaware are among the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that have enacted safe haven legislation.
How does Safe Haven work?
It allows parents to relinquish newborns (in Pennsylvania, infants up to 28 days old and in Delaware, infants believed to be not more than 14 days old) at any Pennsylvania or Delaware hospital or to a police officer at a police station without the fear of criminal prosecution as long as the baby has not been harmed. To make sure that your baby gets the care it needs, you can give your baby to a hospital staff member without having to give them any information. If you don’t want to do that, as long as you leave the baby at a hospital, you don’t have to give the baby to anyone. Some hospitals even have a crib or bassinet for you to put the baby in. If you take the baby to a police station, you must give the baby to a police officer.
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Why is Safe Haven necessary?
Young girls and women who might be hiding their pregnancies or aren’t ready to be mothers are often scared, and don’t know where to turn. Out of fear or shame, some mothers abandon their baby hours after birth. Safe Haven gives parents an option that is both safe for their child and confidential.
What happens to the mother/father?
No information from the parents is needed and no questions will be asked. The person leaving the baby can provide family medical information if they choose or they can take a health history form to fill out later and mail in anonymously. As long as the baby is not harmed or abused, they will not get into trouble with the police.
What happens to the baby?
When a baby is left at the hospital or with a police officer at a police station, he or she is in safe hands. The baby will be examined by a doctor and provided any medical care needed. The local county children and youth agency will take custody of the baby and find him or her a loving family.