New Jersey Marks 100th Infant Safely Surrendered Under Safe Haven Law

The milestone coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act, celebrated during Safe Haven Awareness Month in September.

Morristown, NJ — A newborn safely surrendered earlier this year has become the 100th infant to be placed under the protection of New Jersey’s Safe Haven Infant Protection Act, according to the state Department of Children and Families (DCF). The milestone comes as New Jersey celebrates the 25th anniversary of the law during Safe Haven Awareness Month this September.

“[Safe Haven] is possibly one of the best things that New Jersey or any state has ever put into play,” said Leslie, a South Jersey mother who previously adopted one of the 100 babies through Safe Haven. “It is quite frankly the difference between a gruesome story on the eleven o’clock news, because somebody felt they didn’t have an option; it is lifesaving.”

The Safe Haven law, enacted in 2000, allows parents or guardians to anonymously and safely surrender an unharmed infant up to 30 days old to designated public safety facilities. These include hospitals, police stations, fire departments, ambulance squads, and rescue services. Once surrendered, the infant is medically evaluated and then placed into an adoptive home through DCF’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P).

"After twenty-five years, New Jersey's Safe Haven program continues to be an effective tool to avoid tragedy," said DCF Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer. "The Safe Haven law creates room for grace and compassion for individuals who make the difficult decision to surrender a child, without shame, blame, or stigma. It prioritizes the child's wellbeing and creates a safety valve for New Jersey residents who are unable—for whatever reason—to care for a baby."

A Life-Saving Response to Past Tragedies

The legislation was originally passed in response to a troubling rise in unsafe infant abandonments during the 1990s. Nationwide, unsafe abandonments increased by 62% in the mid-to-late decade, with 33 of 105 incidents resulting in fatalities. Two of those incidents occurred in New Jersey and received widespread media attention, prompting a bipartisan effort to create a legal, confidential alternative for parents in crisis.

New Jersey’s Safe Haven law was one of many passed nationwide to prevent such tragedies by offering parents a secure and judgment-free way to relinquish custody of a newborn.

“In the first year of the law being enacted, DCP&P, formerly referred to as DYFS, received three infants surrendered under the Safe Haven law,” said Assistant Commissioner Laura Jamet. “Since then, those numbers have varied, depending on the year. Each surrender represents lives saved and real moments when first responders in New Jersey gave timely and caring support to individuals surrendering a child, no questions asked. On behalf of DCP&P and the Department, I just want to extend our thanks to the medical and safety professionals over the years who have made Safe Haven such a success.”

Program Implementation and Public Education

DCF is tasked with promoting awareness of the law through a statewide public information campaign. This includes distributing educational materials, maintaining the official website www.njsafehaven.org, and operating a 24/7 confidential Safe Haven Hotline at 1-877-839-2339.

In recent years, the law has also been incorporated into public education. Since 2020, New Jersey high schools have included the Safe Haven law in their Core Curriculum Content Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, helping to inform young people about safe and legal options available for infant surrender.

To further boost visibility, Governor Phil Murphy signed a Joint Resolution designating September of each year as “Safe Haven Awareness Month.”

2025 Milestone and Broader Impact

The 100th surrender recorded this year is the fourth infant surrendered in 2025 alone, demonstrating continued use of the program a quarter-century after it began. For the children surrendered, the program offers a path to safe, stable homes. For birth parents, it ensures legal protection and the opportunity to make a confidential decision during a critical moment.

While exact data on the local breakdown of surrenders is not publicly available, the Safe Haven system is active across all of New Jersey’s counties, including Morris County, where local hospitals and emergency services are equipped to handle Safe Haven surrenders.

Looking Ahead

With 25 years of successful implementation, the Safe Haven law remains a key part of New Jersey’s efforts to protect infants and support families in crisis. State officials continue to encourage awareness and education around the program, aiming to prevent future tragedies by making sure parents know that safe, anonymous options are available.

For those seeking more information about the Safe Haven law, including how and where to safely surrender an infant, visit www.njsafehaven.org or call the Safe Haven Hotline at 1-877-839-2339.