by Providence, Rhode Island, (AP) Frank Caprio, a former Rhode Island municipal judge who became well-known online as a compassionate jurist and host of Caught in Providence, passed away. He was eighty-eight.
According to his official social media pages, he died quietly on Wednesday following a valiant and protracted fight with pancreatic cancer.
Caprio promoted his courtroom as a compassionate and friendly environment where people and matters are treated with respect. Even when he administered punishment, he had a reputation for being kind and dismissing tickets.
Caprio asked people to keep him in their prayers after he had a relapse and was back in the hospital in a brief video that he shared on Facebook last week.
Filmed in his courtroom, Caprio’s presentation showcased his compassion and folk humor. On social media, the show’s clips have received over 1 billion views.
In contrast to many TV judges, Caprio cultivated a more empathetic, less combative, and less critical character while serving on the bench.
Caprio frequently demonstrates empathy for the people in his courtroom in his little YouTube videos. A lot of the violations are actually really trivial, ranging from a penalty for a noisy party to not using a turn signal.
Additionally, Caprio addressed issues such as unequal access to the legal system by using his prominence.
The idea that everyone should have access to justice is embodied in the phrase “With liberty and justice for all.” But in one video, Caprio stated that it isn’t. On their own, nearly 90% of Americans with modest incomes must contend with civil matters such as health care, unfair evictions, veterans benefits, and yes, even traffic infractions.
Caprio received millions of views for his positive portrayal of a judge. The recordings in which he summons kids to the bench to assist in making decisions on their parents have been his most watched. In one, he listens to a widow whose kid was killed with empathy before dismissing her tickets and $400 in fines.
In a another film, Caprio warned viewers not to skimp on their bills after dismissing a red-light infraction for a bartender earning $3.84 per hour.
If anyone is watching, I want them to know that you should not eat and flee because you will be caught and your bill will have to be paid by the poor people who toil away all day for three dollars an hour, he stated.
His family characterized Caprio as a loving husband, father, grandpa, great-grandfather, and friend on social media.
According to the family, Judge Caprio was adored for his kindness, modesty, and unshakable faith in human goodness. His work in the courts and beyond impacted the lives of millions of people. His compassion, humor, and warmth made a lasting impression on everyone he came into contact with.
Politicians at the state and local levels both praised his life and lamented his death.
According to a statement from Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, Judge Caprio not only provided excellent public service but also struck a genuine connection with the populace, inspiring them to react to his kindness and warmth. In addition to being a jurist, he served as a symbol of empathy on the bench, demonstrating to us what can happen when justice is balanced with compassion.
Robert Leonard, who co-owned a restaurant with Caprio, said he was amazing and would be much missed.
“He would do anything for you if he could,” Leonard remarked.
After serving on the bench for almost 40 years, Caprio retired from Providence Municipal Court in 2023.
Caprio was raised in Providence, Rhode Island’s Federal Hill area as the second of three sons, according to his biography.
I hope that people will learn that the government’s institutions can operate well if they are courteous, equitable, and compassionate in their decisions. In 2017, he stated, “We live in a very contentious society.” People will see that we can administer justice without being tyrannical, I hope.
The main author of this obituary was LeBlanc, a journalist for the Associated Press who retired in January. This report was written by Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu and Michael Casey in Boston for the Associated Press.
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