After serving as the chief judge of Providence, Rhode Island’s municipal court for 38 years, Frank Caprio became well-known as the “nicest judge in the world” due to his decisions on the reality show “Caught in Providence.”
In his decisions, Caprio has demonstrated empathy and compassion by speaking with defendants as if they were real people, learning about their life stories, and providing decisions that assisted the person in getting back on their feet as opposed to penalizing them for being ill, impoverished, or taking care of their family.
In an Instagram video, Caprio revealed that a case that was presented to him on his first day on the bench inspired his altruistic philosophy. In response to the question of whether he still thinks about any particular case from his time as a judge, Caprio revealed that there was one particular case that left him feeling “crumbled” and that still makes him feel angry.
A woman who owed $300 in parking tickets was brought before him on his first day as the court’s judge. She claimed she lacked the funds and was unable to pay them. The woman said she wouldn’t be able to pay even with a payment plan, despite his suggestion of one. He told her to pay the $300 or risk having her car booted because he thought she was being impolite and conceited.
On his first day on the bench, Caprio had invited his father, who he described as “maybe the most decent man I ever met in my life,” to watch him. Caprio asked his father how he handled the situation after he decided that the mother had to pay her $300 in parking tickets.
“Frank, that woman,” said his dad. “You assessed her a fine…She felt afraid. It is best that you spoke with her. You ought to have been aware of her issues. Frank, you can’t treat people that way.”
He never forgot the lesson he learned. Watch:
Even after taking the judicial seat, Caprio continued to learn a great deal from his father. Many in Providence have benefited from Caprio’s compassionate approach to justice because of his compassion being passed on.
During the filming of “Caught in Providence,” DiCaprio demonstrated his seriousness about his work as a judge. “I’m not here on the court to be an entertainer,” he stated. “My primary role is to do justice.”
He is a well-liked judge, though, because of his understanding of what it means to “do justice.” He always discovered the reasons behind the offenses committed by the defendants brought before him by paying close attention to what they had to say, and in many of these instances, he realized that mercy and understanding were more beneficial to justice than harsh punishment.
In January 2023, Judge Caprio declared his retirement. In December, the 87-year-old revealed that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In addition to requesting prayers, he has been providing updates via his Instagram account.
