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Retired Providence municipal judge Frank Caprio—a city-level judge whose televised hearings in “Caught in Providence” drew more than 1 billion views—has died at age 88. His official social media accounts said Wednesday that he “passed away peacefully” after “a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.”
Caprio became widely known for turning routine appearances into humane conversations, often hearing relatively minor infractions such as traffic citations and noise complaints.
Filmed in his Providence Municipal Court, his bite-sized segments showcased a folksy tone and steady empathy that contrasted with more confrontational TV courtroom formats. In some of his most-viewed moments, he invited children to the bench to help weigh in on their parents’ tickets, and in one case, he listened to a woman whose son had been killed before dismissing her $400 in fines.
Caprio used his platform to highlight barriers faced by low-income Americans in civil matters. “The phrase, ‘With liberty and justice for all,’ represents the idea that justice should be accessible to everyone. However, it is not,” he said in one video. “Almost 90% of low-income Americans are forced to battle civil issues like health care, unjust evictions, veterans' benefits and, yes, even traffic violations, alone.”
Short clips often captured how he tried to blend fairness with everyday wisdom. After he tossed a red‑light ticket for a bartender earning $3.84 per hour, he warned viewers: “If anyone’s watching I want them to know you better not eat and run because you’re going to get caught and the poor people who are working hard all day for three bucks an hour are going to have to pay your bill.”
His family described him as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, saying he was “beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people.” Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee said he connected with the public in a meaningful way and argued that he showed how justice can be tempered with humanity. A longtime friend and business partner said he would be sorely missed and was “all around wonderful.”
Caprio retired from the Providence Municipal Court in 2023 after nearly four decades on the bench. He grew up in Providence’s Federal Hill neighborhood as the second of three boys.
Last week, he posted a brief Facebook video saying he had suffered a setback, was back in the hospital, and asked people to “remember me in your prayers.” Years earlier, he summed up his approach to judging by saying, “I would hope that people will see that we can dispense justice without being oppressive.”
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