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County Information

Home > Safe Surrender

Don Knabe. Working for you.

Click on a dot on the map of Los Angeles County above to find out more information about each safe surrender.

MARCH 3, 2010

Statement On Abandoned Newborn In Redondo Beach

 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe issued the following statement regarding today’s discovery of an abandoned, deceased newborn in a trash can in Redondo Beach:

“Tragedies like this do not have to happen in this County and in our communities. Since 2001, we have had a successful alternative in the Safe Surrender Program, which is designed to prevent abandonments and save precious lives. It provides a way for desperate parents to safely surrender their baby without fear of prosecution. Parents or family members can safely surrender their baby at any hospital and every fire station in Los Angeles County. The babies are given medical treatment and immediately placed in a loving foster or pre-adoptive home.”

“There is no shame, no blame, and no names. Don’t abandon your baby. You have a confidential choice. Bring your baby to any emergency room or fire station. Get your baby into safe hands. We will take care of the rest. No questions asked. The multilingual Safe Surrender Hotline, 1-877-BABY-SAFE, is available 24-hours a day for more information and the location of the nearest Safe Surrender site. Surrender sites can also be found by calling the County helpline at 211 or by visiting www.babysafela.org.”

76 Safe Surrenders have occurred Safe Surrender since the program began in 2001. The last surrender occurred in Pasadena in October 2009, and a total of seven newborns were surrendered last year. The last abandoned, deceased newborn was discovered in Pomona in April 2009. A total of two abandonments were discovered in Los Angeles County in 2009, down from a high of 14 the year the program was launched.

The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.
 

 

View the press release.

 

Have a question? Ask Don.

 

OCTOBER 6, 2009

Newborn Safely Surrendered At Pomona Hospital


Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again recently with the report of another safely surrendered newborn. This most recent report of a safe surrender occurred at a hospital in the City of Pomona.

The newborn Caucasian male was surrendered on Friday, September 25 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. The newborn is reported to be in good health. As is standard practice, the baby boy is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“This case could have ended in tragedy, but because of the Safe Surrender program, this baby boy has a long life ahead of him,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I am happy this mother made the right choice for her baby.”

This is the sixth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2009, and the 75th since the program began eight years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

 

 

View the press release.

 

Have a question? Ask Don.

The Safe Surrender Program, based on the statewide Safe Haven Law, was developed and championed by Supervisor Don Knabe and unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2001.

The purpose of Safe Surrender is to protect newborns from being hurt or killed because of abandonment. Safe Surrender allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially handover an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room or other designated Safe Surrender site.

As long as the baby has not been abused or neglected, the person may surrender the baby without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment. As of February 2009, 70 newborns have been surrendered in Los Angeles County.

 

 

 

Contact:

Nick Ippolito

Social Services Deputy

(213) 974-4444

nippolito@lacbos.org

Find a Safe Surrender Site


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Don Knabe. Working for you.

Safe Surrender Accomplishments

2009
 

Pasadena Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #76 occurs in the City of Pasadena when a baby boy is handed over at Pasadena Fire Station on October 21, 2009.

Pomona Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #75 occurs in the City of Pomona when a baby boy is handed over at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center on September 25, 2009.
 

Los Angeles Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #74 occurs in the City of Los Angeles when a baby girl is handed over at Fire Station 33 on September 7, 2009.
 

Los Angeles Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #73 occurs in the City of Los Angeles when a baby boy is handed over at hospital on June 25, 2009.
 

West Covina Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #72 occurs in the City of West Covina when a baby girl is handed over at hospital on June 16, 2009.
 

Glendora Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #71 occurs in the City of Glendora when a baby girl is handed over at hospital on April 13, 2009.
 

Opposing Legislation That Will Negatively Impact The Safe Surrender Program

Supervisor Don Knabe renewed his opposition for the fourth time to new legislation by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) that will fundamentally alter the rules of the highly-successful Safe Haven Law. Under the proposed legislation, AB 1048 will extend the newborn surrender period to 30 days. Extensive research has shown that the 72 hour window works.

 

Montebello Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #70 occurs in the City of Montebello when a baby girl is handed over at Beverly Hospital on February 9, 2009.

2008
 

Safe Surrender Protected by Governor's Veto for Third Consecutive Year
Supervisor Don Knabe offered his thanks to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for vetoing a bill that would have placed the success of the statewide Safe Haven Law in jeopardy. This is the third consecutive year the Governor has vetoed similar legislation. Under the proposed legislation, the Safe Haven window would have been extended to seven days from its current 72 hours.
 

Valencia Celebrates Safe Surrender
Safe Surrender #69 occurs in Valencia when a baby boy is handed over at a hospital on

September 9, 2008.
 

Authorizing Reward Payout in 2006 Death of Newborn Baby in Alhambra

The Board of Supervisors approved payout of two $5,000 rewards for information that led to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the death of Baby Rose, a newborn baby girl whose body was found along railroad tracks in the City of Alhambra.

 

South Pasadena Celebrates Safe Surrender
Safe Surrender #68 occurs in the City of South Pasadena when a baby boy is handed over at South Pasadena Fire Station #81 on August 14.

 

Long Beach Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #67 occurs in the City of Long Beach when a baby girl is handed over at a hospital on March 30.
 

Woodland Hills Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #66 occurs in the City of Woodland Hills when a baby girl is handed over at a hospital on February 29.
 

Remaining Opposed to Legislation that would Negatively Impact the Safe Surrender Program Supervisor Knabe renewed his opposition for the third time to new legislation by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) that will fundamentally alter the rules of the highly-successful Safe Haven Law. Under the proposed legislation, AB 2262 will extend the newborn surrender period to 7 days. Extensive research has shown that the 72 hour window works.
 

Monterey Park Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #65 occurs in the City of Monterey Park when a baby girl is handed over at a hospital on January 15.

Huntington Park Celebrates Safe Surrender

Safe Surrender #64 occurs in the City of Huntington Park when a baby boy is handed over at a hospital on January 15.
 

Norwalk Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #63 occurs in the City of Norwalk when a baby girl is handed over at Los Angeles County Fire Station #20 on January 9.

2007
 

Downey Celebrates Safe Surrender
Safe Surrender #62 occurs in the City of Downey when a baby boy is handed over at Downey Regional Medical Center on October 27.

Safe Surrender Protected by Governor's Veto

Supervisor Knabe offered his thanks to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for vetoing a bill that would have placed the success of the statewide Safe Haven Law in jeopardy. This is the second consecutive year the Governor has vetoed similar legislation. A similar version in last year's legislative session proposed extending the window from 72 hours to 30 days.

 

Los Angeles Celebrates Safe Surrender
Safe Surrender #61 occurs in Boyle Heights when a baby boy is handed over at Los Angeles Fire Station #2 on October 1.
 

Valencia Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #60 occurs in Valencia when a baby girl is handed over at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital on September 4.


El Monte Celebrates Safe Surrender

Safe Surrender #59 occurs in the City of El Monte when a baby boy is handed over at Greater El Monte Community Hospital on May 25.

 

Bellflower Celebrates Safe Surrender

Safe Surrender #58 occurs in the City of Bellflower when a baby girl is handed over at Kaiser Permanente on April 29.


Los Angeles Celebrates Safe Surrender

Safe Surrender #57 occurs in the City of Los Angeles when a baby girl is handed over at Good Samaritan Hospital on April 26.

 

West Covina Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #56 occurs in the City of West Covina when a baby boy is handed over at West Covina Fire Station #1 on April 21.
 

Report Highlights Success of Safe Surrender Program

Supervisor Knabe hailed a new investigative report that highlights the successes of the County’s Safe Surrender Program. The “Safely Surrendered and Abandoned Babies Report” by the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect shows that the 72-hour Safe Surrender window has seen continued success, while the number of newborn abandonments in Los Angeles County continues to decline.

Valencia Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #55 occurs in Valencia when a baby girl is handed over at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital on April 8.

 

Opposing Legislation that would Negatively Impact the Safe Surrender Program
 Supervisor Knabe renewed his opposition to legislation introduced by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont). Assembly Bill 81 (AB 81) is a rehashing of Torrico’s AB 1873 from the last legislative session that was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger in October 2006. Under the proposed legislation, AB 81 will extend the newborn surrender period to 30 days.

Bellflower Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #54 occurs in the City of Bellflower when a baby girl is handed over at Kaiser Permanente on March 26.

 

Downey Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #50 occurs in the City of Downey when a baby girl is handed over at Downey Regional Medical Center on February 10.

Glendale Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #51 occurs in the City of Glendale when a baby girl is handed over at Glendale Memorial Hospital on February 10.

Arcadia Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #52 occurs in the City of Arcadia when a baby boy is handed over at Methodist Memorial Hospital on February 26.

Glendora Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #53 occurs in the City of Glendora when a baby girl is handed over at Foothill Valley Presbyterian Hospital on February 27.
 

Bellflower Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #48 occurs in the City of Bellflower when a baby boy is handed over at Kaiser Permanente on January 17.

Brentwood Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #49 occurs in the City of Brentwood when a baby girl is handed over at Los Angeles Fire Station #19 on January 17.
 

2006
 

Long Beach Celebrates Safe Surrender
 Safe Surrender #47 occurs in the City of Long Beach when a baby girl is handed over at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center on Thanksgiving Day.

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