Map of Past Safe Surrenders

Click on a dot on the map of Los Angeles County above to find out more information about each safe surrender.

 

Top Story - Apr 16, 2013

Newborn Baby Boy Safely Surrendered in Mission Hills

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the second time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy. This most recent safe surrender occurred on April 12, 2013 at a hospital in Mission Hills.

As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“After the horrifying news in December of a baby being found at a recycling center, I am relieved to hear that this newborn is safe and will be part of a loving family,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I’m thankful that this mother decided to surrender her baby, rather than put him in a harmful situation. As word spreads about the Program, mothers in desperate situations can make the right choice for their babies and themselves, because of Safe Surrender.”

This is the second Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2013, and the 105th since the program began over eleven years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

Slideshow

Supervisor Knabe promoting his Safe Surrender program

4db200d4103d807279b564def348e728
8a228b46b9f303aa5f9395c08e9a1414
aea0fef448e30096963e3c22ec1deb3e
_3MZ0226

Find a Safe Surrender Site

Enter your ZIP CODE:

Advanced Search

Safe Surrender Program

The Safe Surrender Program, based on the statewide Safe Haven Law, was developed and championed by Supervisor Don Knabe and unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2001.

The purpose of Safe Surrender is to protect newborns from being hurt or killed because of abandonment. Safe Surrender allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially handover an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room or other designated Safe Surrender site.

As long as the baby has not been abused or neglected, the person may surrender the baby without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment. As of February 2013, 104 newborns have been surrendered in Los Angeles County.

 

Don Knabe. Working for you.

Safe Surrender Accomplishments

2013

Newborn Baby Boy Safely Surrendered in Mission Hills

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the second time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

First Safe Surrender of 2013 Occurs at Van Nuys Hospital

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the first  time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

Newborn Baby Boy Safely Surrendered on Christmas Eve

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the 13th time in 2012 with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

2012

Knabe Statement on Abandoned Newborn Found in City of Industry

Following yesterday’s discovery of an abandoned, deceased newborn at a trash collection center in the city of Industry, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is reminding residents about the County’s[...]

100 Newborns Saved By County's Safe Surrender Program

Families, firefighters and hospital staff joined Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe at Grand Park yesterday evening for a ceremonial candle lighting to honor the 100 newborns who were given[...]

Knabe to Honor 100th Newborn Safely Surrendered in Los Angeles County

Eleven years after it was established in Los Angeles County, 100 newborns have been given a second chance for a happy and healthy life under the safe surrender program. Supervisor[...]

Newborn Baby Girl Safely Surrendered in Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the 10th time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

Two Newborn Babies Safely Surrendered This Week

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the ninth time this year, and the second time this week, with[...]

Newborn Boy Safely Surrendered in Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the seventh time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

Newborn Boy Safely Surrendered in Torrance

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the seventh time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

Newborn Baby Boy Safely Surrendered in Glendora

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fifth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

Two Newborn Baby Girls Safely Surrendered This Week

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fourth time this year, and the second time this week, with[...]

Newborn Baby Girl Safely Surrendered in Pomona

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the third time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

Knabe Reminds Residents About County's Safe Surrender Program

Following last night’s attempted abandonment of a newborn baby in Long Beach, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is reminding residents about the County’s Safe Surrender program. “Incidents like what[...]

Newborn Girl Safely Surrendered at Los Angeles Fire Station

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the second time in less than a week with the report of[...]

First Safe Surrender Baby of 2012 Born in Pasadena

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the first time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

2011

Newborn Girl Safely Surrendered in Torrance

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fifth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

Safe Surrender Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Families, firefighters, hospital staff and social workers joined Supervisor Don Knabe today at the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration to recognize the 10th anniversary of the Safe Surrender program.[...]

Supervisor Knabe to Welcome Families to 10 Year Anniversary of Safe Surrender Program

Out of what could be a tragic outcome of abandonment or death, 87 newborns have been given a chance for a healthy and happy life thanks to the Safe Surrender[...]

Newborn Boy Safely Surrendered in Torrance

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fourth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

Newborn Girl Safely Surrendered at Torrance Hospital

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the third time in the month of May with the report of[...]

Newborn Boy Safely Surrendered at Fire Station #104 in Winnetka

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the second time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

Newborn Girl Safely Surrendered at West Covina Hospital

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the first time this year with the report of a safely surrendered[...]

2010 Ends With Two Safe Surrenders

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated another success with the report of a safely surrendered newborn, the seventh in 2010. [...]

2010

Newborn Boy Safely Surrendered at County Fire Station

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fifth time this year with the report of another safely surrendered[...]

Newborn Girl Safely Surrendered in Woodland Hills

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fourth time this year with the report of another safely surrendered[...]

Supervisor Knabe Launches Safe Surrender Facebook Page

Supervisor Knabe invites you to support a new Facebook page in support of the Safe Surrender program. Join Supervisor Knabe in his fight to protect the lives of all newborns.[...]

Father's Day at Paramount's Fire Station 31

It was baby Marvin’s eight-month birthday recently when his parents took him to Los Angeles County Fire Station 31 in the City of Paramount to meet the station’s crew but[...]

Newborn Girl Safely Surrendered At County Fire Station 41 In Unincorporated Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again yesterday with the report of another safely surrendered newborn. This most recent[...]

Statement On Abandoned Newborn In Redondo Beach

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe issued the following statement regarding today’s discovery of an abandoned, deceased newborn in a trash can in Redondo Beach: Tragedies like this do not[...]

2009

Newborn Safely Surrendered At Pomona Hospital

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again recently with the report of another safely surrendered newborn. This most recent[...]

South Central Fire Station Receives Safely Surrendered Newborn

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, is pleased to announce that a baby girl was safely surrendered yesterday at Fire Station 33 in the[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered At Los Angeles Hospital

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again last week with the report of another safely surrendered newborn. This most[...]

LA County Celebrates 25 Years Of Trauma Services

Los Angeles County is unveiling a new emergency mass notification system to alert residents and businesses by phone, text, and e-mail of emergencies in their area, Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman[...]

Anti-Gang Program Will Continue In The Cities Of Bellflower And Paramount

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that the Board of Supervisors has authorized two separate one-year agreements between the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Cities[...]

Knabe Will Again Oppose Legislation That Will Negatively Impact The Safe Surrender Program

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, renewed his opposition for the fourth time to new legislation by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) that will fundamentally[...]

Montebello Hospital Receives First Safely Surrendered Newborn Of 2009

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, is pleased to announce that a baby girl was safely surrendered recently at Beverly Hospital in the City[...]

2008

LA County Celebrates 25 Years Of Trauma Services

December 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of Los Angeles County’s trauma system. Nearly 400,000 critically injured trauma patients have been treated in local trauma centers since the first trauma centers[...]

County Celebrates National Adoption Day

The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will co-host the 10th Annual Adoption Saturday with 200 children adopted into permanent families. A news conference will be[...]

Safe Surrender Protected By Governor's Veto For Third Consecutive Year

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe offered his thanks to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today for vetoing a bill that would have placed the success of the statewide Safe Haven Law[...]

Valencia Hospital Receives Safely Surrendered Newborn

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce that a baby boy was safely surrendered at a hospital in the community of Valencia yesterday. The mother reportedly told[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered In South Pasadena

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again yesterday with the report of another safely surrendered newborn. This most recent[...]

Supervisors Payout Reward In 2006 Death of Newborn Baby In Alhambra

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved payout of two $5,000 rewards for information that led to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the death[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered In Woodland Hills

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that a baby was safely surrendered in at a hospital in Woodland Hills on Friday, February 29. The newborn Hispanic female was[...]

Knabe Will Once Again Oppose Legislation That Will Negatively Impact The Safe Surrender Program

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe renewed his opposition for the third time to new legislation by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) that will fundamentally alter the rules of the highly-successful[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered In Huntington Park

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again with the report of another safely surrendered newborn. This most recent report[...]

Second Safe Surrender In 24 Hours

The Los Angeles County Safe Surrender program celebrated a second success story today with the confirmation of a Safe Surrender in the City of Monterey Park. Word of the other[...]

Norwalk Fire Station Receives The First Safely Surrendered Newborn Of 2008

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce that a baby girl was safely surrendered at a fire station in the City of Norwalk this morning. This was[...]

2007

Newborn Safely Surrendered In Downey

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce that a baby boy was safely surrendered at a hospital in the City of Downey last week. The newborn Hispanic[...]

Safe Surrender Protected By Governor's Veto For Second Consecutive Year

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe offered his thanks to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today for vetoing a bill that would have placed the success of the statewide Safe Haven Law[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered To Los Angeles fire Department In Boyle Heights

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce that a baby boy was safely surrendered in the City of Los Angeles last week. The newborn Hispanic male was[...]

Sixtieth Newborn Safely Surrendered In Valencia

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce that a baby girl was safely surrendered in Valencia last week. The newborn Caucasian female was surrendered at Henry Mayo[...]

Bellflower Hospital Receives Safely Surrendered Newborn

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is happy to announce that a baby girl has been safely surrendered in the City of Bellflower. The newborn was surrendered at Kaiser Permanente[...]

West Covina Fire Station Receives Safely Surrendered Newborn

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is happy to announce that a baby boy was safely surrendered on Saturday, April 21, in the City of West Covina. The newborn male[...]

Report Highlights Success of Safe Surrender Program

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe hailed a new investigative report today that highlights the successes of the County’s Safe Surrender Program. The just-released Safely Surrendered and Abandoned Babies Report[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered in Bellflower

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again today with the report of another safely surrendered newborn. This most recent[...]

53rd Newborn Safely Surrendered in Glendora

A newborn girl has become the 53rd baby handed over under the Safe Surrender Program, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The Hispanic female baby was safely surrendered[...]

Arcadia Hospital Receives Safely Surrendered Newborn

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is happy to announce that a baby boy was safely surrendered in the City of Arcadia. The newborn Hispanic male was surrendered at Methodist[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered in Glendale

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again today with the report of another safely surrendered newborn, the second such[...]

2006

Safe Surrender Protected by Governor's Veto

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe offered his thanks to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today for vetoing a bill that would have placed the success of the statewide Safe Haven Law[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered at Pomona Hospital

A newborn girl has just become the 45 th baby handed over under the Safe Surrender Program, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced this morning. The baby girl was[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered at Downey Hospital

A newborn boy has been surrendered at a Downey hospital as part of the Safe Surrender program, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The baby boy was safely[...]

Safely Surrendered Baby in Long Beach

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced this morning that a baby has been safely surrendered at a hospital in Long Beach. The newborn Caucasian boy was surrendered yesterday afternoon[...]

Newborn Safely Surrendered at Norwalk Hospital

A newborn boy has been surrendered at a Norwalk hospital as part of the Safe Surrender program, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced this morning. The baby boy was[...]

Two Newborns Safely Surrendered in Los Angeles County

Two newborn babies were recently turned over to local hospitals as part of the Safe Surrender program, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced this afternoon. Both surrenders occurred on[...]