Maryland's Safe Haven Law
Passed in 2002, Maryland's Safe Haven law allows mothers to leave their newborn babies at a hospital, fire or police station without being prosecuted - no questions asked. The purpose of the law is to protect newborn babies who may be abandoned by their mothers who are afraid they would be subject to legal action if they cannot keep the child. The baby must be 10 days old or younger and unharmed for the mother to be protected by this law.
According to child welfare agencies, these babies will be adopted; infants have the highest adoption rate in the U.S.
