Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) was an untested medical hypothesis that evolved into a tool for investigating child abuse. Essentially, this theory held that when a “triad” of injuries appeared at an autopsy, it automatically indicated that a child had been shaken to death. What was not known at the time was that there were other possible causes for these injuries. Unfortunately, the underlying hypothesis gained significant acceptance among law enforcement and the medical profession before being debunked.

During the 1980s and 1990s, SBS provided prosecutors with “slam-dunk” cases that easily convinced juries across the country. It is still unknown how many innocent parents were wrongfully imprisoned, but innocence projects nationwide are working tirelessly to free as many as possible. To learn more about Shaken Baby Syndrome, please tune in to the episode linked above, hosted by Michael Semanchik.

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Written by:
Laurence Colletti