INFANT SAFE HAVEN

Infant Safe Haven Law



Infant Safe Haven Law

Introduction

The twinkling laughter, sparkling eyes and innocent smiles are shattered due to the heinous act of abusing a little child. Daily several children are exploited and become the subject of abuse. The vulnerability of children makes them an easy target to strangers and even their family members. Child abuse has become a growing concern for every country. It is not just a family or an individual's problem; it is a problem for the entire world. A form of child neglect and abuse is Infant abandonment and infanticide, which is a growing problem in the world. To decrease this problem the infant safe haven law has been introduced in all the states. Each of the state has some different requirement. In this paper the infant safe haven law of California has been discussed.

Infant Abandonment and Infanticide in California

"Safe Haven" laws were enacted to protect babies who are literally being thrown into dumpsters and garbage containers and left to die. In California, according to the safe haven law, after the parents abandon their child, the child comes under the temporary custody of the child protection services. The child protection services starts investigation of the case and filling a petition of dependency for the child. Under 24 hours, the child protection services reports all the information regarding the child, apart from the identity of the individual or parents who have abandoned the child, to the National Crime Information Centre or the California Missing Children Clearinghouse (Hoyano & Keenan, 2007).

The abandonment of children in this state is increasing day by day. Men and women, who have not the courage to face the consequences of their actions, abandon their children to get rid of their responsibility. According to research, mostly the teenager mothers abandon their babies and to avoid unwanted pregnancies, they have abortions. There is also the economic factor that lead parents to disengage their child from themselves, not to feed them as they should, clothe, educate, and so on. Unlike children who run away from home, those who have been abandoned are called foundling (Finkelhor, 2009). Child abandonment is a form of child neglect. Child neglect is a child abuse form that happens when a parent or guardian intentionally neglects to provide a child with care medical, clothing, shelter, water, food or other needs (Finkelhor, 2009).

Case Examples

Last week, a girl two weeks old, was found in a trash pile in the California suburbs, despite the fact that California has a "safe haven" law. Almost every state in the United States has a "safe haven" law that allows mothers to leave their children in designated hospitals, fire stations or police stations and just walk away from their responsibilities as a parent. There are no legal consequences or accountability for the mother (Boswell, 1984).

Purpose of Infant Safe Haven Law

The main purpose of the infant safe haven law is to save a child who would probably be neglected, abused and in worst situation even ...