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The tragic news in
recent days of a 21-year-old student at the University of Southern
California being charged with murder after standing accused of
abandoning her newborn baby in an alley serves as a sad, but
important reminder that there is a far better and safer option for
giving up unwanted newborns.
In 2001, the Legislature approved a law that gives a safe and legal
haven for these newborns. In Los Angeles County this law became the
Safe Surrender Program, which has since become a national model for
similar programs. Under Safe Surrender, any person, from teenagers,
to college students, to grandparents, can confidentially turn over
an unwanted newborn to any fire station or hospital emergency room
within the first 72 hours of delivery. The law guarantees anonymity
and freedom from prosecution, no questions asked.
Sadly, that was not done in this most recent case, which is why our
community is now challenged by the death of a newborn and a
21-year-old accused of murder.
This deceased newborn is only the second such case this year in Los
Angeles County. That number is down from eight cases each in 2003
and 2004. On the other hand, seven newborns have already been safely
surrendered in 2005, bringing the total to nearly 50 safe cases
since the Program went into effect.
We must all do whatever we can to get the word out that there is a
safe and legal alternative to abandoning a newborn. There is another
way out. The Safe Surrender Program is it and we know it is a
program that works.
More information about the Safe Surrender Program is available by
calling (877) BABY-SAFE or by going to
www.babysafela.org
DON KNABE
Supervisor, Fourth District
County of Los Angeles
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