Providence Municipal Court chief judge Frank Caprio dies at 88

Rhode Island’s longtime Providence Municipal Court chief judge, Frank Caprio, died at age 88 after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer. His family announced the death on social media, noting that Caprio passed away peacefully with his loved ones by his side. The public acknowledgment came after Caprio posted a final video from his hospital bed less than a day earlier, in which he urged supporters to keep him in their prayers as he faced a setback. Caprio retired from the bench in 2023 after a nearly four-decade career and broad national recognition for his compassionate approach to justice.

Caprio’s journey from a Federal Hill upbringing to national fame began in earnest when he became a Providence Municipal Court judge in 1985. Over the years, he earned a reputation for empathy in the courtroom, particularly in cases involving minor offenses or financial hardship. His philosophy of mercy was popularized beyond Rhode Island through the television program Caught in Providence, which aired from 2018 to 2020 and earned Daytime Emmy nominations. He became known as “America’s Nicest Judge” for repeatedly steering outcomes toward understanding, sometimes waiving fines or...