LA County 'safe surrender' marks 101 newborns

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A special ceremony was held in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon to mark the 100th and 101st "safe surrender" babies at county hospitals and fire stations.

The program, which started in 2001, allows a person to a surrender an infant no more than three days old to a fire station or hospital without the risk of prosecution, provided the baby shows no signs of abuse.

Two weeks ago, officials said someone left a newborn boy at a Torrance hospital, making him the 100th infant surrendered. Two days later, they say a baby girl was surrendered at a hospital in Downey.

County officials, firefighters and hospital workers who participate in the safe surrender program, along with parents who have adopted safe surrender babies, were at the ceremony to celebrate the milestone.

"She's brought so much joy to our family," said Adam Hernandez, who adopted a baby girl surrendered in June 2006 in Pomona. "It's been a great experience."

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los angeles news, leo stallworth

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