April is Safe Haven Baby Awareness month, and many people may not know what exactly that means.
We spoke with Manitowoc County District Attorney Jackie LaBre, who explained that many states, including Wisconsin, have a Safe Haven Law.
The law states that a person can give birth to a baby and within 72 hours, can bring that baby to a hospital, a Fire Department, a Police Department, or various other places, and turn the baby over to a responsible party and walk away. That child would then be considered a Safe Haven Baby, and the parent would not be prosecuted. The child is then given a medical exam and placed up for adoption.
While this may seem like a heartless way to stop caring for one’s own child, LaBre said that it is the best way for someone who cannot care for their child to ensure they will remain healthy.
“It’s difficult sometimes,” LaBre said. “People are in some difficult circumstances. One of the cases I prosecuted in another county, they had put the baby in a dumpster and the baby died. This is a way for those children to be put in a safe environment and eventually be adopted by a family who wants a child and want to raise that baby.”
LaBre is using the month of April to remind soon-to-be parents that are feeling like they will not be able to properly take care of the child that there is a humane option for that child.
