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Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma: Wrongful Conviction Risks, Mis-information Effects, and Psychological Consultation
Matthew B. Johnson, Christine Baker, Barbara Prempeh & Shereen R. Lewis
ABSTRACT
Psychologists as experts may be engaged in criminal or family
court cases involving Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head
Trauma (SBS/AHT). There are unsettled questions within medical
specialties regarding the diagnosis of SBS/AHT, as well as the
mechanisms and timing of injuries. Psychologists need to be
cautious about providing testimony based on findings from dis-
ciplines other than psychology. Forensic psychological consulta-
tion in SBS/AHT can be informed by the record of exoneration in
these cases. Also, psychological research on processes in wrong-
ful conviction such as the “mis-information effect” and forensic
“confirmation bias” can inform such consultation and testimony.