Curiosity piqued by a story in a small local neighborhood paper about a teenager who abandoned her newborn under some bushes. The article also mentions the Illinois Safe Haven law, whereby anyone can turn over a baby within its first 7 days to the police, fire department, or a hospital, no questions asked.
But… why 7 days?
If I keep the baby for a month, and realize I just can’t hack the motherhood thing, and bring it to the police, what would I be charged with? And, perhaps more nebulous to answer, why charge me with anything? Why is it inherently worse to turn over a baby you can’t take care of to the authorities after 30 days than after 7? I’d think that it would be considered worse to leave a baby in an environment where it can’t be properly cared for, regardless of elapsed time since birth. And that people who are actually smart enough to figure out that they suck as parents shouldn’t be punished for doing right by the kid… isn’t it easier to have a cooperative parent turning it over rather than having to go through CPS investigations?
Just a WAG, but the 7 day limit may be aimed at getting those not equipped to deal with caring for a child to turn it over sooner rather than later so that less damage is done to the infant through improper care over a longer time period.
From what I remember, these laws were passed in an effort to avoid babies being abandoned in dumpsters and other situations likely to result in the baby’s death. Such abandonments usually happen within a few days of birth , often in an effort to prevent the birth from being discovered (by the mother’s parents, for example). After that time period, you can still turn over the baby to adoption or social service agencies.
I am not a police officer, fireman, hospital dude, american, or anything like that, but it seems to me from what I’ve read about such laws that the important words in your question are no questions asked. In the period covered by the laws it is my understanding you can say “Here. I don’t want it” to someone appropriate and that is the extent of it. Beyond that you have bureaucracy to contend with in terms of formally giving up custody of the kid.