NM law protects parents who want to surrender their newborn baby

KOB4 ^ | AUG 22, 2019 | Brittany Costello

[Morgana]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- The mother of a baby who was found dead inside a trash bag was allegedly using heroin while she was pregnant.

The death of another young child in New Mexico is shedding light on a law that is aimed at protecting them.

Children up to 90 days old can be dropped off a various safe locations around the state, and the parent will not face criminal prosecution for abandonment.

“No questions asked, they can drop them off safely and not have any repercussions,” said Albuquerque Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Emily Jaramillo.

Fire stations, police stations and hospitals have been designated as safe locations to drop off a baby.

“If there is an emergency where they drop them off there then we can treat any sort of emergency,” Jaramillo said. “That's what our paramedics do every day.”

The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department helps find placement for the baby who was surrendered.

The lack of prosecution or investigation does not apply to situations of abuse or neglect

[Morgana]

New Mexico ping please...

Here is the story that lead to this story.
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/nmsp-newborn-baby-found-dead-inside-trash-bag/5465680/?cat=504

NMSP: Newborn baby found dead inside trash bag

[dp0622]

That’s a good law.

Right?

[blam]

SURRENDER?

They mean shitcan!

[I want the USA back]

If you bring your cat/dog to an animal shelter, they get your name, address, telephone number, plus a donation. Plus they ask WHY you are leaving the animal.

There are no anonymous cat/dog dump places, where you place the animal on a ledge and walk away, with no questions asked.

The discrepancy should have sane people throughout the world yelling and screaming, but it doesn’t.

Do these idiots really think that people who were going to throw the baby into the trash are going to stop, think, and decide to bring the baby to a fire station instead?

[Morgana]

Safe-haven laws (also known in some states as “Baby Moses laws”, in reference to the religious scripture) are statutes in the United States that decriminalize the leaving of unharmed infants with statutorily designated private persons so that the child becomes a ward of the state.

https://www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org/states/

HOTLINE 1-888-510-BABY

Or text SAFEHAVEN to 313131

New Mexico:

https://www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org/

[Morgana]

Depends on the animal shelter, I know of some who don’t.

Plus I know of some who just ask where you found the dog or cat. I’ve dropped off many of dog that was not mine, but told them what road I found the poor pup wondering on in hopes the owner found him/her.

[gibsonguy]

I really wish they would focus on AZ and TX. Ca and NM are lost do them last.

[Hot Tabasco]

I think it's a good law.

There's a DVD called "The Drop Box" about a S. Korean pastor who built a heated drop box to rescue infants abandoned by their parents. He took in the forgotten, the disabled and the discarded and dedicated his life to protecting them.......

[AceMineral]

These used to be called “Firehouse Laws”. Drop your infant off at a firehouse no questions asked.

[Midwesterner53]

Georgia has a similar law, drop the baby off at a fire or police station, no questions asked. Please don’t kill the child, give it a chance for a better life.

[Mrs. Don-o]

In California alone, From January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2017, a total of 931 newborns were saved in California under the Safely Surrendered Baby Law (a.k.a. Baby Moses Law.)

During that same period of time (2001-2017) there were 2 - 3 million babies who died by abortion in California.

So it's clear the majority of women would rather kill their babies than just let nature take its course and then place the child in someone's loving arms.

But 931 is still a significant number of babies.

Thinking of Moses, think of what God did with just ONE.

[CedarDave]

Lots of NM stories this morning and as I have the time will ping.

NM list PING!

I may not PING for all New Mexico articles. To see New Mexico articles by topic click here: New Mexico Topics

To see NM articles by keyword, click here: New Mexico Keywords

To see the NM Message Page, click here: New Mexico Messages

(The NM list is available on my FR homepage for FR member use; its use in the News Forum should not be for trivial or inconsequential posts. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
(For ABQ Journal articles requiring a subscription, scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the article for free after answering a question or watching a short video commercial.)

[dp0622]

Really?

[Wm F Buckley Republican]

Iowa has had this law for several years and to date nearly 30 babies have been relinquished this way.

[shanover]

What is wrong with New Mexico? That state certainly turned in the wrong direction rather quickly.

[cnsmom]

Can they drop the teenagers at the jail?

[DLfromthedesert]

Arizona has had this law for at least 10 years. Several babies were left at the hospital where I worked and were happily adopted by people who were able to properly care for them.

Good law...saves lives of innocent children.

[Sarcasm Factory]

Oh, yeah. I'm drunk again, so I'm prone to taking unpopular opinions. I totally agree with you. The fanatics on the extreme right would terrorize unworthy mothers into stuffing their infants into trash bags and dumpsters. I vehemently disagree with this perverse incentive structure.

A law that encourages methamphetamine addicts to deliver their unwanted babies to safe alternatives can only be good.

I think it's a good law.

There's a DVD called "The Drop Box" about a S. Korean pastor who built a heated drop box to rescue infants abandoned by their parents. He took in the forgotten, the disabled and the discarded and dedicated his life to protecting them.......

[Sarcasm Factory]

You're a kind fellow. The world should be full of such as you. :-)

Plus I know of some who just ask where you found the dog or cat. I’ve dropped off many of dog that was not mine, but told them what road I found the poor pup wondering on in hopes the owner found him/her.