11 Kids, 1 to 17, Abandoned in 1 Day Under New Nebraska Law

Family Law

11 Kids, 1 to 17, Abandoned in 1 Day Under New Nebraska Law

Posted Sep 25, 2008, 04:39 pm CST
By Martha Neil

In recent years, many states have adopted new laws allowing parents to abandon infants in safe places such as hospitals and fire stations. The idea was to protect babies and offer overwhelmed parents a legal way out, instead of prosecuting them for felony child abandonment as traditionally has been done.

Nebraska put a new spin on such statutes, though, when it adopted a version that didn't impose any age limit concerning the children who can be abandoned without criminal consequences. Yesterday, several parents took advantage of that opportunity, leaving a total of 11 children (nine were from one family) at hospitals, according to the Associated Press.

Three more children were dropped off earlier this month under the new law, which took effect in June, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

Although the safe haven statute protects parents from being charged with child abandonment, it still allows criminal cases to be pursued if they are found to have harmed their children, the newspaper notes.

Government officials and child welfare experts said the law wasn't intended to encourage parents to give up older children, and expressed concern about the emotional consequences to children of being abandoned. They urged struggling parents to seek assistance rather than simply give up their children, the World-Herald reports.

"Do not hit and do not quit," advised Jim Blue of the Lincoln-based Cedars facility. "When you feel like doing either, reach out for help."

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Posted by EAC - 3 months, 2 weeks, 5 hours, 2 minutes ago

Nebraska needs to amend this law and limit the age at which children may be abandoned. This approach was no popular when the law was passed and there was concern about making an arbitrary cut off. However, without such a limit, you will have children abandoned who are quite aware of it and it also encourage people who cannot control their teens to simply drop them off at the hospital as a last resort.
Posted by Brad - 3 months, 2 weeks, 4 hours, 51 minutes ago

This article exists thanks to Ernie Chambers, Nebraska’s lone black representative in the state. Big E repeatedly creates stupid laws that end up having these unintended consequences, or fights legitimate laws that might actually have some effect on his community that is rife with gun violence and little personal responsibility.

This is the same guy who is currently suing God.

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