Officials look to educate community about Safe Haven Law

As details emerge surrounding last week's abandonment of a newborn near the Washington, D.C.-Takoma Park border by a recent immigrant, local law enforcement officials and advocates are discovering the need to better educate young women and immigrants on Maryland's Safe Haven Law.

Maryland's Safe Haven Law passed in October and allows mothers to leave their newborn babies in the custody of a responsible hospital, fire or police station without being prosecuted. It is designed to protect babies who may be put in life-threatening situations by mothers who fear legal action for giving up their newborn children, according to the Maryland Department of Human Resources. Newborns must be 10 days old or younger and unharmed for mothers to be protected under the law.