Justices to Consider Death Penalty Issue

Jan 7, 2008

The Supreme Court has decided to take on the case that will decide whether the death penalty may be imposed on someone who rapes a child.

Patrick Kennedy was sentenced to death for the rape of his 8-year-old stepdaughter in 1998. Until December 2007, Kennedy was the only person on death row for a crime other than murder.

NASW, along with other victims’ rights organizations, have come out against the higher penalty, asking the court to not allow those convicted of child rape be placed on death row. Read the story that covers this from The Washington Post. NASW maintains that the statute will have a negative effect, making the perpetrator more inclined to kill the victim and the healing process more difficult for the victim.Â

Click here to read a story from The Austin Chronicle about this case.

To read the entire brief, visit the NASW Legal Defense Fund and search the Amicus Brief Database.

Have 8 Minutes? Share Your Thoughts on Client Substance Use

Feb 3, 2026

We’re listening! We want to learn about your work with clients on alcohol and other substance use. In just eight minutes, you can help us better train and educate social workers who serve clients at risk for substance-related problems, including substance use...

Recent Child Care Updates

Jan 29, 2026

Since the start of the new year there have been several new developments regarding child care. Childcare has been a consistent conversation among parents, social workers, child advocates, and the childcare workforce because the costs of care are rising. Without affordable child care, some parents leave the workforce, and some spend more than 7% of their income on care while paying for other necessities. Childcare is plagued with long waitlists, low compensation for workers and some rural communities have few options to access care.

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