Newborn baby is left in a "safe haven box" in Florida

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For the first time since its installation over two years ago, a newborn baby is left in a "safe haven box" in Florida; the organization's founders state, "we knew it was only a matter of time." Daily Mail reported. In Ocala, Florida, a newborn infant was left in a "safe haven baby box." The box is designed to allow parents to surrender their infants anonymously.

To protect the parent's privacy, drop-off information has been suppressed. Approximately 134 of the controversial boxes have been deployed in U.S. states.
All fifty states have laws permitting moms to surrender children without facing penalties.


Monica Kelsey, founder and chief executive officer of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, thanked the individual who utilized the box but did not identify the gender of the child or the date and hour of the drop-off in order to protect their anonymity.

All states in the United States have "safe haven" statutes that let mothers to surrender their infants to police without fear of criminal prosecution. In recent years, more than 10 states have passed legislation permitting the construction of baby boxes.

However, they have generated debate. The New York Times criticized the baby box in an August 2013 article, describing it as "a idea stretching back to medieval Europe." It also said that they were part of a "conservative" plan to fight against abortion and put more focus on adoption instead. Kelsey said on Thursday: 'We want to address the parent who legally surrendered this infant, and right now I'm going to talk directly to her or him.

'Thank you. Thank you for keeping your child safe. Thank you for bringing your child to a place that you knew was going to take care of this child.'


Photo: Monica Kelsey, founder and chief executive officer of Safe Haven Baby Boxes

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