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Texas was the first US state to address the issue of abandoned babies with a safe-haven law. Indiana has taken this further by installing Safe Haven Baby Boxes in fire stations. The boxes are padded, air-conditioned, and lock automatically when closed. Advocates say the boxes provide an alternative to unsafe abandonment, infanticide, or abortion.
In 1999, Texas became the first U.S. state to address the problem of abandoned babies, some of whom were left in dumpsters or suffered other horrific fates after being born outside the hospital system. The state enacted what was known as a BaMoses law, a safe-haven law designed to save lives by encouraging parents to deliver babies safely. In 2016, activist Monica Kelsey took this idea a step further when she convinced Indiana to install Safe Haven BaBoxes in fire stations. A mother who wants to deliver her baby safely and anonymously can now simply place the baby in a trap door, which typically looks like a bank’s overnight safety deposit box.
A safe place for abandoned children:
Here’s how the system typically works: When a person opens the baby’s box, a 911 call is immediately placed and firefighters and medical personnel are dispatched. Once closed, the box locks automatically.
The playpen is padded and air-conditioned to keep baby warm while allowing air to circulate. The child receives immediate attention and typically becomes a candidate for adoption later on.
Advocates say safe-haven laws provide an alternative to abortion, infanticide or the unsafe abandonment of children. Detractors argue that the laws, now in place nationwide, favor mothers and sometimes violate fathers’ rights.
