At age 15, Z received his sentence in adult court. The reason why dates back 40 years, to a child named Willie Bosket. His crimes changed everything for kids and criminal justice.
In 1978, Bosket murdered two people on the New York City subway. Despite the severity of his crime, he received a sentence of just 5 years, and the tabloids went wild. The result: a new state law that has pushed thousands of kids into the adult system, an approach that’s been adopted by states across the country. We look back at Willie Bosket: his childhood, his extreme and atypical violence, and the specific challenges he presented to the juvenile justice system, even before he became a murderer.
Caught is supported, in part, by the Anne Levy Fund, Margaret Neubart Foundation, the John and Gwen Smart Family Foundation, and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.
Like 'Caught'? Try 'The Stakes'
Introducing Charged
Bonus: Introducing Aftereffect
Episode 9: 'You Just Sit There and Wait for the Next Day to Come'
Episode 8: 'I Want Someone to Love Me Even for a Second'
Episode 7: 'It’s the Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done'
Episode 6: 'Please Lock Up My Kid'
Episode 5: 'The Teenage Brain Is Like a Sports Car'
Episode 4: 'Oh My God, What Have I Done?'
Episode 2: 'They Look at Me Like a Menace'
Episode 1: 'I Just Want You to Come Home'
Coming Soon: Mass Incarceration Starts Young
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