Monday, January 18, 2010

Abandoned Baby Sparks Debate Over Safe Haven Law


The abandonment of an 8-month-old girl at a police station in Illinois has sparked a debate over the state's Safe Haven law. Matisha Goens, 28, left her 8-month-old daughter at a South Side police station. Officers found the baby on New Year's Day.

The Safe Haven law allows parents to leave an infant up to 1 month old at a hospital, fire station or police station without fear of prosecution. This case has started a debate about whether that age limit should be raised and how the police should deal with situations like this one. Some wish for more discretion, others say that support, instead of legislation is a better way to handle the situation.

This is a tough decision for legislators. While no one wants to encourage the abandonment of children, rigid prosecution could encourage young parents in similar situations to abandon babies in garbage dumps or similar places.

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