(Toledo News Now) -
A
local prosecutor is working to raise awareness about a law designed to prevent parents
unable to care for their infant children from harming or abandoning the child.
It's
called the Safe Haven law. In Ohio, parents can drop their newborn off at a
hospital, police station, or fire station, and as long as there are no signs of
abuse, the parents will face no legal consequences.
"No
questions asked, no photograph, no description, no following, no police report,"
said Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates. "There is no reason in our state why
an infant should ever end up in a freezer."
Bates
was referring to this
case, where an infant was found dead in a freezer. The mother has recently
pleaded guilty to aggravated murder. It is because of this case that Bates is
raising awareness of the Safe Haven law.
According
to the law, a child dropped off at the hospital or with local authorities will
be examined, placed in foster care, and, hopefully, adopted.
"[We
want to] take that tragedy and turn it into something positive so this doesn't
ever have to happen again," Bates said.
The
program is for babies up to 30 days old. Officials say leaving medical records
or health information with the infant is recommended, but not required.
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