What with the news today about the dead baby found in a dumpster in Redwood City, we'll copy KTVU and pass along some information about the Safe Haven (or Safely Surrendered Baby) law. We hope no one reading this site'll ever need it.

In California (along with 45 other states), a woman has three days after the birth of a child to surrender the baby to a designated "safe haven," such as a hospital or fire department, without fear of prosecution. The parent, or a person with lawful custody, must bring the baby to the safe haven and indicate that the baby is being left under the Safe Haven law. No questions may be asked, unless the child looks like it's been abused. The FAQ is here (.pdf).

The Safe Haven location will immediately tag the baby with a coded id bracelet, and will make an effort to give a replica bracelet to the surrendering adult and take a medical history. If the baby is left at a hospital, they'll do a medical exam. Within 48 hours, the Safe Haven must contact the child welfare authorities. A surrendering parent has 14 days in which to reclaim the child, pursuant to the usual standards by which the child welfare authorities normally give children back to parents. Babies can be left at any hospital, or at most fire stations.

From January 2001-September 2004 (.pdf), 64 babies were surrendered under the Safe Haven law, out of 125 reported abandoned infants. 39 of the 64 were surrendered within hours of birth. Only 3 parents filled out medical questionnaires, and only 1 person has attempted to regain custody (she later abandoned the attempt). The age range of mothers goes from 15 to 42.