Introduction: To aid in the understanding of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), we analyzed a database of over 1000 cases including information on the victim, perpetrator and legal outcomes.  Methods:  Data were collected using several information-gathering sources including newspaper accounts and analyzed using chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression.

Results:  We had 1365 SBS cases for the years 1978 to 2002.  Victims ranged from less than 32 days to 72 months, and 58% died.  The average age of the perpetrator was 27 years and alleged perpetrators were father (43%), followed by non-relative caregiver (22%) and mother’s boyfriend (17%).  Charges were filed more often when the victim died (84% vs. 70%, p <0.0001), and the perpetrator was male (p= 0.0036).  Over half (64%) of those charged were convicted with a crime, representing half of the 1365 cases.  Non-relatives (step/foster father and father, non-relatives,) were the most likely to be convicted (p=0.0923).  The majority (63%) of those convicted of a charge were sentenced to some prison or jail time, representing almost a third (31.3%) of the total sample. 

Conclusions:  SBS is a serious injury problem that needs further attention.  Our study shows that 1) males were more likely to be charged; 2) non-relatives were more likely to be convicted; and 3) charges were filed against perpetrators in half of all the cases, and less than a third of the perpetrators served a prison term.