July 30, 2004
HEALEY SIGNS SAFE HAVENS LAW TO PROTECT NEWBORN INFANTS
Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today signed into law the so-called “safe havens” legislation that allows new parents to safely leave their infants with state authorities instead of abandoning them.
“We have been confronted with several tragic and near tragic instances in recent years where newborns have been abandoned in dangerous and life threatening situations,” said Healey, acting as Governor in the absence of Mitt Romney. “The new safe havens law will help save the lives of abandoned infants by giving panicked parents a safe alternative.”
The new law, signed by Healey at Boston Medical Center, allows a parent to anonymously leave a newborn who is less than seven days old at a designated facility – hospitals, police departments or staffed fire stations – without facing any legal consequences. The legislation requires the Department of Social Services to take immediate custody of the newborn and place the infant safely into foster care. Under the new law, parents are not automatically stripped of their parental rights.
Before the safe havens law, parents found guilty of abandoning a baby could face up to five years in prison. Voluntarily placing an infant at a designated facility gives a frightened parent an accessible and safe option without the fear of prosecution. By adopting a "no questions asked" policy, parents are encouraged to provide information about the newborn, such as the parent’s identity and the biological family's medical history, but will not be required to provide such information.
“This bill is about saving lives,” said Representative Barry Finegold. “If we can save just one, then it will be a success.”
“Through enactment of the safe haven law for Massachusetts, we begin a second important phase – making the public aware of the new law and working to prevent any more unsafe newborn abandonments,” said Jean Morrisey of Lexington. Morrisey and her husband, Michael, helped spearhead the Massachusetts safe haven law and have advocated for the legislation for the past three years.
Massachusetts will now join 46 other states that have already established laws to protect abandoned babies.
The Department of Social Services will create and implement a public awareness campaign to promote the new law as well as teen pregnancy programs and adoption information. The public information program will target areas with the highest teen pregnancy rates to help prevent tragedies related to infant abandonment.
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