About The Law
The Safe Haven law provides a legal means for parents to safely relinquish custody of newborns up to 60 days old without the threat of prosecution for neglect, abandonment or child cruelty.
DCFS recommends parents who want to relinquish their newborns take the following steps:
- Locate the nearest Safe Haven site by using the search feature above.
- Once at the facility, locate an employee, hand your child to them and state that you want to use Louisiana's Safe Haven law.
- NEVER abandon your child. If you cannot travel to a Safe Haven site, call 911.
