Authors

Shae A. Woodburn

Article Title

Shaky Science: Shaken Baby Syndrome and Its Disproportionate Impact on False Convictions of Women of Color

Abstract

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a controversial diagnosis and an even more controversial basis for conviction. The syndrome is questioned by scientists and doctors who have yet to come to a consensus on its diagnosis. Courts have permitted SBS evidence to be admitted in criminal trials, and many people have been convicted solely on the basis of this controversial diagnosis. This Note seeks to analyze the history of SBS, the conflicts in the medical and scientific community, standards of evidence that permit its admission in court, and how all of these factors converge in a way that disproportionately impacts women of color, especially Black women.

Repository Citation

Shae A. Woodburn, Shaky Science: Shaken Baby Syndrome and Its Disproportionate Impact on False Convictions of Women of Color, 29 Wm. & Mary J. Race, Gender, & Soc. Just. 255 (2022), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl/vol29/iss1/8