A judge who ruled with mercy, humor, and a full heart

Frank Caprio was born on November 24, 1936, in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, growing up as the second of three sons in an Italian-American family. Working as a dishwasher and shoeshiner while attending public school, he graduated from Central High School—where he notably won the state wrestling title in 1953.

Caprio earned a BA from Providence College in 1958 and taught American government at Hope High School while attending Suffolk University Law School at night, where he received his JD in 1965. He also served in the Rhode Island Army National Guard from 1954 to 1962.

Entering public life early, Caprio served on the Providence City Council from 1962 to 1968. Although he ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, he continued his civic engagement, chairing the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education.

In 1985, he was appointed Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court, a position he held until his retirement in 2023. His courtroom was renamed the Chief Judge Frank Caprio Courtroom in October 2023, and he was granted the honorary title of Chief Judge Emeritus.

Caprio became a beloved public figure through the television series Caught in Providence, produced by his brother, where his compassionate, humorous, and fair-minded “mercy verdicts” on minor infractions went viral starting around 2017, earning millions of views and a global following. The show was nationally syndicated in 2018, and as of 2022, had accumulated nearly 500 million views on YouTube and over 2.9 million subscribers.

Caprio was also deeply committed to community outreach—establishing scholarships (like the Antonio “Tup” Caprio Fund) to support students in underserved Rhode Island neighborhoods, and supporting organizations like Boys Town of Italy, the Nickerson House Juvenile Court, and the Rhode Island Food Bank. He received honorary doctorates from Suffolk University (1991), Providence College (2008), and the University of Rhode Island (2016), and earned the Producer’s Circle Award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2018.

Announcing his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in December 2023, Caprio completed radiation treatment in mid-2024. He passed away on August 20, 2025, at the age of 88, following a health setback. His legacy was celebrated as one of empathy, respect, and humble service; Rhode Island’s governor called him a “state treasure,” and flags were flown at half-staff in his honor