TRENTON, NJ – Legislation expanding New Jersey’s Safe Haven Infant Protection Act was signed into law today by Governor Phil Murphy. Sponsored by Senator Kristin M. Corrado, the amendment aims to offer additional options for parents to safely surrender newborns without fear of prosecution.
Previously, the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act permitted parents to anonymously hand over an infant up to 30 days old to staff at a 24/7 hospital emergency room, police station, fire station, or EMS station with no questions asked.
The new legislation, identified as S-2828/A-4110, extends this provision by allowing parents to voluntarily surrender their newborns at the hospital where the birth took place. Parents are protected from prosecution whether they surrender the child immediately after birth or later at another approved location. Hospital staff who accept these infants in good faith are also protected from prosecution under the revised law.
“We’ve seen an increase in safe surrenders as awareness of New Jersey’s Safe Haven Law grows,” said Senator Corrado. “By extending the places where a newborn can be safely surrendered, we are providing parents with more life-saving options for their infants, while also protecting them from prosecution. The new law ultimately protects more infants from dangerous or deadly situations.”