Indiana Safe Haven Baby Box: How It Works and Legal Protections

An Indiana Safe Haven Baby Box lets a parent anonymously place a newborn up to 60 days old into a climate-controlled compartment built into the outside wall of a participating hospital, fire station, or EMS station. The door locks the moment it closes, alarms bring staff within seconds, and the parent walks away without giving a name, signing a form, or facing prosecution for abandonment, provided the baby shows no signs of abuse.¹

Who Can Use a Baby Box

The infant must be, or appear to be, no more than 60 days old. That age cap comes from Indiana Code § 31-34-2.5-1, which governs when an emergency medical provider is required to take custody of a voluntarily surrendered child.¹ A separate criminal statute, Indiana Code § 35-46-1-4, creates a defense to abandonment or neglect charges when the child was not more than 30 days old and suffered no bodily injury.²

The baby must be free from signs of intentional abuse or injury. If a surrendered infant shows evidence of physical harm, the legal protections do not apply and the situation may be treated as a criminal matter.³

No identification, paperwork, or verbal communication is required. Indiana’s Department of Child Services encourages parents to leave any medical history, date of birth, or racial background they can share, because it helps the child’s future caregivers, but sharing is entirely optional and has no effect on the parent’s legal protections.³

How the Box Works

The whole process takes under a minute. Pull the handle on the exterior door, place the infant inside the prepared bassinet, and close the door. Once it closes, it locks automatically and cannot be reopened from outside. Staff retrieve the baby through a second door on the interior of the building.

Closing the door triggers the alarm system. The statute requires a dual alarm at staffed stations, and at volunteer fire departments the alarm connects directly to 911 dispatch to request immediate response.¹ The organization’s operational policies describe three independent alarm triggers: the exterior door opening, a motion sensor detecting the infant, and an electrical failure alert.⁴ The compartment itself is climate-controlled to hold a safe temperature for a newborn.

Where to Find a Baby Box

Boxes are installed on the exterior walls of hospitals, fire stations, and EMS stations across the state. Every location must be staffed around the clock by emergency medical personnel so someone can respond the moment a child is placed inside.¹ Each installation is a recessed compartment with a handle and standardized signage identifying it as a Safe Haven location. Indiana has more installed boxes than any other state.

The Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization keeps an online map of every installed location at shbb.org. You can also call the National Safe Haven Crisis Hotline at 1-888-510-BABY (2229) for help finding the nearest one.

Other Legal Ways to Surrender in Indiana

The box is not the only option. Indiana law recognizes several surrender methods, all carrying the same legal protections under Indiana Code § 31-34-2.5-1.²

Hand the infant directly to any emergency medical services provider.
Tell hospital staff, after giving birth, that you are voluntarily relinquishing the child.
If you cannot reach any of those options, dial 911 and stay with the child until an emergency provider arrives.

The baby box is the option that lets a parent avoid any face-to-face interaction.

Legal Protections for the Parent

The law rests on two promises: anonymity and immunity. You do not have to give a name, show ID, or speak to anyone. The statute enables a parent to surrender a newborn anonymously without fear of arrest or prosecution.³

Under Indiana Code § 35-46-1-4, leaving a child with an emergency medical provider is a valid defense to abandonment or neglect charges when the prosecution is based solely on the act of leaving the child, the infant was no more than 30 days old, and the child suffered no bodily injury.² Placing the child in the box or handing the baby to medical staff allows the state to take immediate legal custody without any separate consent form or signature from you.

What Happens to the Baby Next

On-site medical personnel retrieve the infant as soon as the alarm sounds. If the surrender happens at a fire station or EMS site, the child is transported to the nearest hospital for a full medical examination.

The Indiana Department of Child Services takes custody of the child immediately after being notified that a parent voluntarily left the infant and did not express intent to return. The infant does not go directly to an adoptive family. DCS places the child in emergency foster care first, and its policy specifically states that this initial placement is not considered a long-term or adoptive placement; the emergency foster home generally cannot become the adoptive home unless a deputy director or court approves an exception.⁵ Once parental rights are terminated in court, the child becomes eligible for permanent adoptive placement.

If You Change Your Mind

Safe Haven laws are designed for permanent relinquishment, but Indiana does not completely cut off a parent’s ability to come forward. A parent who changes their mind should contact the Indiana Department of Child Services as soon as possible to begin the process of reclaiming custody.

Reclaiming is not automatic. DCS has stated it will never return a child to someone claiming parentage without first confirming the relationship, which can include genetic testing along with other verification. The agency also works with the juvenile court to determine whether the child was surrendered with the knowing consent of both parents before approving any reunification. The timeline for termination of parental rights in safe haven cases moves faster than in typical child welfare proceedings, so acting quickly matters.

Crisis Support

If you are considering surrendering an infant or struggling with a crisis pregnancy, you can call or text the National Safe Haven Crisis Hotline at 1-888-510-BABY (2229). The line is staffed around the clock, every day of the year, and counselors can help locate the nearest box, walk you through the process, and connect you with additional support. In any medical emergency, call 911 first.

1
Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 31-34-2.5-1 – Taking Custody of Child Without Court Order; Newborn Safety Device; Anonymity; Immunity
2
Child Welfare Information Gateway. Infant Safe Haven Laws – Indiana
3
Indiana Department of Child Services. Safe Haven Law
4
Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc. Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc. Policies and Procedures
5
Indiana Department of Child Services. Indiana Department of Child Services Child Welfare Policy – Section 34: Safe Haven and Abandoned Infants