Officials don't know why father left 9 kids
UPDATE
Posted: Thursday, September 25, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Nine children left at an Omaha hospital late Wednesday by their father under the state's new safe haven illustrates the problems many feared when the sweeping law went into effect.
The father, who was not identified, left the children ages 1 to 17, at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room on Wednesday night.
The law which went into effect in July and allows anyone to leave a child at a hospital without fear of prosecution. It was initially intended to protect infants -- like similar laws in other states -- but was amended to include the word "child," which isn't defined. Teenagers are now being dropped off.
Before Wednesday's drop-off, at least four children between the ages of 11 and 15 had been abandoned by parents since the law took effect.
Kathie Osterman, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed the children's ages, but she didn't know how many boys or girls were dropped off.
Osterman didn't know why the father left them.
Osterman said more information would be available later Thursday when state officials hold a previously scheduled news conference to discuss the safe haven law.
Under previous state law, a parent who abandoned a baby could have been charged with child neglect or abandonment, both misdemeanors, or child abuse, a felony.
State Sen. Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center, who introduced the original legislation that was amended by other lawmakers, said the state is getting into a real mess because of the language of the law.
"People are leaving them off just because they can't control them," Stuthman said. "They're probably in no real danger, so it's an easy way out for the caretaker ... that is not what the intent is."
Stuthman has said he introduced the measure to protect infants. In a compromise with senators worried about arbitrary age limits, the measure was expanded to include the word "child."
The law doesn't further define child, and some have interpreted that to mean anyone in Nebraska under the age of 19. Others have taken the common law meaning of child -- those under age 14.
The law also isn't intended to absolve someone of child-abuse charges.
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has called for changes to the state haven law. The Legislature does not meet until January.
Most other states have focused their laws on protecting infants.
The father, who was not identified, left the children ages 1 to 17, at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room on Wednesday night.
The law which went into effect in July and allows anyone to leave a child at a hospital without fear of prosecution. It was initially intended to protect infants -- like similar laws in other states -- but was amended to include the word "child," which isn't defined. Teenagers are now being dropped off.
Before Wednesday's drop-off, at least four children between the ages of 11 and 15 had been abandoned by parents since the law took effect.
Kathie Osterman, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed the children's ages, but she didn't know how many boys or girls were dropped off.
Osterman didn't know why the father left them.
Osterman said more information would be available later Thursday when state officials hold a previously scheduled news conference to discuss the safe haven law.
Under previous state law, a parent who abandoned a baby could have been charged with child neglect or abandonment, both misdemeanors, or child abuse, a felony.
State Sen. Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center, who introduced the original legislation that was amended by other lawmakers, said the state is getting into a real mess because of the language of the law.
"People are leaving them off just because they can't control them," Stuthman said. "They're probably in no real danger, so it's an easy way out for the caretaker ... that is not what the intent is."
Stuthman has said he introduced the measure to protect infants. In a compromise with senators worried about arbitrary age limits, the measure was expanded to include the word "child."
The law doesn't further define child, and some have interpreted that to mean anyone in Nebraska under the age of 19. Others have taken the common law meaning of child -- those under age 14.
The law also isn't intended to absolve someone of child-abuse charges.
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has called for changes to the state haven law. The Legislature does not meet until January.
Most other states have focused their laws on protecting infants.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 1 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
Come on wrote on Sep 25, 2008 9:47 AM: