Skip to content
NOWCAST News 9 Tonight
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

What to know about New Hampshire's Safe Haven Law

What to know about New Hampshire's Safe Haven Law
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      LOWELL.. ARRESTED.. AND THEN BROUGHT áBACKá TO NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE'S SET TO APPEAR IN COURT TOMORROW. ADDITIONAL TESTS ARE NOW BEING DONE ON THE BODY OF A NEWBORN GIRL FOUND DEAD IN MANCHESTER'S PINE ISLAND PARK. POLICE ANNOUNCED A 25-HUNDRED DOLLAR REWARD IN THE CASE YESTERDAY. INVESTIGATORS NOW BELIEVE THE BODY WAS LEFT IN A POND BETWEEN MARCH 25 AND 27. POLICE ARE CONSIDERING THE DEATH SUSPICIOUS. WHILE WE DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT BABY... NEW HAMPSHIRE DOES HAVE A SAFE HAVEN LAW THAT WAS UPDATED LAST YEAR. IT NOW ALLOWS A PARENT TO ANONYMOUSLY SURRENDER A NEWBORN CHILD WHO IS NOT MORE THAN 61 DAYS OL
      Advertisement
      What to know about New Hampshire's Safe Haven Law
      As the investigation into who left a newborn girl's body in Manchester's Pine Island Pond continues, officials are reminding the public that there are options available to parents who want to give their child away after birth.While we don't know the exact circumstances of what happened to the baby, the state does have a Safe Haven Law that was updated last year. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play << The law allows a parent to anonymously surrender a newborn child who is not more than 61 days old. The child can be surrendered at any hospital or at a staffed church, fire department or law enforcement facility.The child can be surrendered to a person at the facilities or through the use of a "safe haven baby box," if one is available. The box is required to be equipped with an alarm that notifies the facility where the box is located when a child is placed inside. It's a no-questions-asked situation, but first responders might ask for a medical history of the child, including if they have any known illnesses or are in need of medication.The parent who surrenders the baby is not required to reveal any personally identifiable information. They can stay anonymous if they choose to. As the revised law states, any evidence of a parent’s crime obtained as a direct result of the parent surrendering the child will be inadmissible in a criminal or civil trial against the parent. In addition, law enforcement officials will investigate whether the child is the one who was reported missing.Hospitals, churches and first responders are required to notify the state within 24 hours. If the baby is surrendered at a hospital, the baby will receive a full workup before the Division of Children, Youth and Families takes over temporary care.

      As the investigation into who left a newborn girl's body in Manchester's Pine Island Pond continues, officials are reminding the public that there are options available to parents who want to give their child away after birth.

      While we don't know the exact circumstances of what happened to the baby, the state does have a Safe Haven Law that was updated last year.

      Advertisement

      >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<

      The law allows a parent to anonymously surrender a newborn child who is not more than 61 days old. The child can be surrendered at any hospital or at a staffed church, fire department or law enforcement facility.

      The child can be surrendered to a person at the facilities or through the use of a "safe haven baby box," if one is available. The box is required to be equipped with an alarm that notifies the facility where the box is located when a child is placed inside.

      It's a no-questions-asked situation, but first responders might ask for a medical history of the child, including if they have any known illnesses or are in need of medication.

      The parent who surrenders the baby is not required to reveal any personally identifiable information. They can stay anonymous if they choose to.

      As the revised law states, any evidence of a parent’s crime obtained as a direct result of the parent surrendering the child will be inadmissible in a criminal or civil trial against the parent. In addition, law enforcement officials will investigate whether the child is the one who was reported missing.

      Hospitals, churches and first responders are required to notify the state within 24 hours. If the baby is surrendered at a hospital, the baby will receive a full workup before the Division of Children, Youth and Families takes over temporary care.