Infant Safe Haven Laws: A policy analysis

The purpose of this policy analysis was to examine the Infant Safe Haven Law and its many implications for both the infants that are safely surrendered as well as the mothers of these infants. Currently 48 states have implemented Infant Safe Haven Laws. Each States law is similar in that they aim to provide a safe way for unwanted infants to be abandoned, without legal persecution to the surrendering parent, and without harm to the infant. The researcher used existing literature and data to analyze the Infant Safe Haven Policies in the United States. This analysis covers both historical and legislative aspects of the policy in the United States, as well as historically relevant events worldwide. Based on the findings of this policy analysis, this researcher finds that the Infant Safe Haven Laws are well intended, save infants lives each year but only touches upon the complexity of infant abandonment