DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services (No. 87-154)

DeShaney v. Winnebago County was a landmark Supreme Court Case which was ruled on in February, 1989. The case revolved around Joshua DeShaney, a child who who was reportedly abused by his father, Randy DeShaney. In 1980, Joshuas parents divorced and his father won full custody. In 1983, Joshua was hospitalized for suspected abuse by his father. Winnebago County Department of Social Services got involved and four year old Joshua DeShaney was kept in the hospitals custody for three days. However, On the recommendation of a child protection team, consisting of a pediatrician, a psychologist, a police detective, the countys lawyer, several DSS caseworkers, and various hospital personnel, the juvenile court dismissed the case and returned the son to the custody of his father. (US Supreme Court). Over the next year, Winnebagos Department of Social Services visited the DeShaney household five times and each time, suspected child abuse was reported. In January and March of 1984, Josh ua was reported too ill to be visited by social services for his bimonthly check ups. Evidently, he had been beaten to the point of slipping in to a life threatening coma by his father. Emergency brain surgery revealed that Joshua had a series of severe brain hemorrhages caused by head injuries inflicted everyplace a long period of time. Joshua DeShaney survived, but he suffered severe brain damage and was not expected to ever make a full recovery. Joshua DeShaneys develop filed a lawsuit on his behalf, claiming that because DSS had taken no action to prevent the violence affecting her son, they had violated his right to liberty without the due process gauranteed to him by the Fourteenth Amendment. Joshuas mother sued under 42 U.S.C. 1983, alleg... ...nnebago County.Wikipedia. N.p., 10 12 13. Web. 10 Jan 2014. . U.S. Supreme Court, . N.p.. Web. 10 Jan 2014. . Strauss, P.. N.p.. Web. 10 Jan 2014. . Cornell, . 10 Jan 2014. . . N.p.. Web. 10 Jan 2014. . . N.p.. Web. 10 Jan 2014. . . N.p.. Web. 10 Jan 2014. . Estelle v. Gamble.Wikipedia. N.p., 29 10 13. Web. 11 Jan 2014. . Younberg v. Romeo.Wikipedia. N.p., 5 11 12. Web. 11 Jan 2014. .