PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (USA) (Kashmir English): Beloved TV judge and star of the hit television program ‘Caught in Providence’, has died at the age of 88.
Frank Caprio was suffering from pancreatic cancer. He served as Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court for a long time.
Born on November 24, 1936, in Providence, Rhode Island, Caprio captured global attention with his compassionate approach to justice.
He was the son of Italian immigrants Antonio and Filomena Caprio. Caprio graduated from Providence College in 1958 and later earned his law degree from Suffolk University Law School while working as a high school teacher.
Caprio served Providence City Council from 1962-68
In his early career, Caprio did private practice and served the Providence City Council from 1962 to 1968.
Later, he was appointed to the Providence Municipal Court in 1985 and went on to serve as Chief Judge until his retirement in 2023.
Captio’s courtroom gained widespread recognition through ‘Caught in Providence’, a program that began on local television before expanding at the national level and online.
The show’s viral clips featured Caprio’s empathy and fairness in handling minor offenses, earning him millions of admirers globally.
Besides his judicial role, Caprio chaired the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education and established several scholarships to support students at Providence College, Suffolk University, and other educational institutions.
He was also honoured with several honorary degrees and inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce, and their five children, including Frank T. Caprio, former Rhode Island General Treasurer with his family expressing hope that his legacy of compassion and kindness will live on through the good deeds of others.
