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Frank Caprio

Updated: Wikipedia source

Frank Caprio

Frank Caprio (November 24, 1936 – August 20, 2025) was an American judge and politician who served as the chief judge of the municipal court of Providence, Rhode Island, and chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education. His judicial work was televised on the program Caught in Providence. He also made appearances in the series Parking Wars, adjudicating several cases of traffic violations. The Caught in Providence YouTube channel has 2.92 million subscribers. In 2017, his videos in the courtroom went viral, with more than 15 million views. By 2022, views of Caught in Providence neared 500 million. He became well known for his empathy and light humor in court. A Democrat, Caprio served on the Providence City Council in the 1960s, and unsuccessfully ran for both Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.

Infobox

Appointed by
Joseph R. Paolino Jr.
Succeeded by
John J. Lombardi
Born
(1936-11-24)November 24, 1936Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died
August 20, 2025(2025-08-20) (aged 88)Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Resting place
St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston, Rhode Island
Political party
Democratic
Spouse
mw- Joyce Caprio (m. 1965)
Children
5, including Frank and David
Education
mw- Providence College (BA) Suffolk University (JD)
Branch
mw- li United States Army Rhode Island Army National Guard
Service years
1954–1962
Unit
876th Combat Engineer Battalion

Tables

· External links
Preceded byAnthony Brosco
Preceded byAnthony Brosco
Party political offices
Preceded byAnthony Brosco
Party political offices
Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Rhode Island 1970
Party political offices
Succeeded byDominic Cresto
Party political offices
Preceded byAnthony Brosco
Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Rhode Island 1970
Succeeded byDominic Cresto

References

  1. "Judge Frank Caprio Wants Justice for All"
    https://www.rimonthly.com/judge-frank-caprio/
  2. "Caprio: Leave the ladder down, so others may follow"
    http://www.independentri.com/independents/ind/south_kingstown/article_323b88b3-6c27-565c-a513-fe72f66e47aa.html
  3. Catholic News Agency
    https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266069/frank-caprio-famed-judge-known-for-showing-mercy-dies-at-88
  4. "Nation Is Having A Fight"
    https://www.newspapers.com/image/57022849
  5. "Providence is home court for TV Judge Frank Caprio '58 & '08Hon"
    https://news.providence.edu/providence-is-home-court-for-tv-judge-frank-caprio-58-08hon
  6. 1998 Congressional Record, Vol. 144, Page S5244
    https://www.govinfo.gov/link/crec/144/S/5244
  7. You tube (Caught in Providence Channel)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fy719Nr3V8
  8. www.suffolk.edu
    https://www.suffolk.edu/news-features/news/2025/08/21/13/45/judge-frank-caprio
  9. "A Family of Veterans, Hurricane High Gravity, and Help Yourself". Archived January 29, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. Yo
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcYSi_yHirc&t=4m5s
  10. Bolinger, James. "Compassionate rulings make judge with soft spot for veterans an internet sensation". Archived August 1
    https://www.stripes.com/news/compassionate-rulings-make-judge-with-soft-spot-for-veterans-an-internet-sensation-1.555699
  11. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/08/21/frank-caprio-judge-caught-in-providence
  12. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/judge-frank-caprio-dies.html
  13. "Police Stop Fistfight In Federal Hill"
    https://www.newspapers.com/image/56814302
  14. History & Classics Dissertations and Masters Theses
    https://digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=history_dissertations_theses
  15. "Councilman Is Candidate"
    https://www.newspapers.com/image/57013907
  16. Rhode Island Board of Elections
    https://elections.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur756/files/publications/Election_Publications/Countbooks/1968-Count-Book.pdf
  17. Time
    https://time.com/7311326/frank-caprio-judge-caught-providence-rhode-island-compassion-courtroom-obit
  18. "Our Campaigns – RI Attorney General Race – Nov 03, 1970"
    https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=744202
  19. "Teitz, Silva, to Support Brown for Nomination"
    https://www.newspapers.com/image/19483546
  20. WPRI.com
    https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/providence/history-made-as-providence-city-council-elects-municipal-court-judges/
  21. Official website
    https://www.caughtinprovidence.com/
  22. Barnes and Noble
    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/compassion-in-the-court-frank-caprio/1145682706
  23. Providence Journal
    http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180926/caught-in-providence-is-now-courting-national-audience
  24. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxPgia7-QRg
  25. Napa Valley Register
    https://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/providence-crime-suspects-star-in-courtroom-tv-show/article_3552612f-7802-5c78-a3d6-b3f76c96edf1.html
  26. Deadline
    https://deadline.com/2025/08/judge-frank-caprio-dead-tiktok-caught-in-providence-1236493650/
  27. New England One
    https://web.archive.org/web/20171213084120/http://www.newenglandone.com/news/local/providence/caught-in-providence-back-on-abc-6.html
  28. "Judge Frank Caprio's Reaction to Woman's Parking Ticket Goes Viral"
    https://radio.foxnews.com/2017/02/10/judge-frank-caprios-reaction-to-womans-parking-ticket-goes-viral/
  29. abc6.com
    http://www.abc6.com/story/34461914/caught-in-providence-goes-viral-on-youtube
  30. NBC News
    https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/viral-judge-frank-caprio-rules-with-a-big-heart-1090765891978
  31. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClhuRYjci-g
  32. NextTV
    https://www.nexttv.com/news/caught-in-providence-cleared-to-return-for-season-2
  33. The Providence Journal
    https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/01/13/judge-caprio-of-caught-in-providence-retires-from-cheif-justice-role/69806874007/
  34. Amazon Prime Video
    https://www.amazon.com/Caught-In-Providence/dp/B09QFGWC7C
  35. "80-year-old judge becomes unlikely internet star"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/frank-caprio-80-year-old-judge-becomes-internet-star-providence/
  36. "Viral Judge Frank Caprio Rules With A Big Heart"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2jwXB6lriw
  37. "Caught in Providence"
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59KhIPOR0Jj653dC4laEJw/about
  38. This Judge Had the Best Reaction to This Little Boy's Honesty
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200713110632/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V7j3eWVsHw&app=desktop
  39. "Social media sensation Judge Frank Caprio on compassion, kindness and his cancer diagnosis"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/social-media-sensation-judge-frank-caprio-on-compassion-kindness-and-his-cancer-diagnosis/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h
  40. The Providence Journal
    https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/good-news/2024/06/24/ris-viral-judge-frank-caprio-gets-cbs-segment-amid-cancer-fight/74195199007/
  41. International Business Times, India Edition
    https://www.ibtimes.co.in/who-judge-frank-caprio-top-7-videos-that-made-him-internet-sensation-736811
  42. Highlights
    http://www.ribghe.org/winter06.pdf
  43. The Independent
    http://www.independentri.com/independents/ind/south_kingstown/article_323b88b3-6c27-565c-a513-fe72f66e47aa.html
  44. "Commencement 2016: University of Rhode Island to present 5 honorary doctorates this year"
    https://today.uri.edu/news/commencement-2016-university-of-rhode-island-to-present-5-honorary-doctorates-this-year/
  45. GoLocalProv
    https://www.golocalprov.com/live/live-caprios-caught-in-providence-comes-to-national-network
  46. "Providence courtroom renamed in honor of former Chief Judge Frank Caprio"
    https://turnto10.com/news/local/providence-courtroom-to-be-renamed-in-honor-of-form-chief-judge-frank-caprio-municipal-courtroom-nearly-40-years-service-oct-20-2023
  47. "Frank Caprio, judge in 'Caught in Providence' is retired. What he does now"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20231014110805/https://eu.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/10/11/frank-caprio-judge-in-caught-in-providence-is-retired-what-he-does-now/71077116007/
  48. "Judge Caprio to throw out first pitch at Yankees-Red Sox game on Thursday"
    https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20190723/judge-caprio-to-throw-out-first-pitch-at-yankees-red-sox-game-on-thursday
  49. Catholic News Agency
    https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266069/frank-caprio-famed-judge-known-for-showing-mercy-dies-at-88
  50. People
    https://people.com/tv-judge-frank-caprio-reveals-pancreatic-cancer-diagnosis-8414087
  51. WJAR
    https://turnto10.com/news/local/judge-frank-caprio-rings-bell-as-he-finishes-radiation-treatment-cancer-pancreatic-miami-cancer-institute-baptist-health-social-caught-providence-may-24-2024/
  52. "Judge Frank Caprio, known for 'Caught in Providence,' dies at 88"
    https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/providence/judge-frank-caprio-known-for-caught-in-providence-dies-at-88/
  53. People
    https://people.com/judge-frank-caprio-dies-at-age-88-11794854
  54. NBC News
    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-frank-caprios-death-leaves-mourners-remembering-compassion-drew-rcna227941
  55. "Judge Frank Caprio Honored With Rhode Island's Version of a State Funeral"
    https://www.ripbs.org/news-and-culture/rhode-island-gives-judge-frank-caprio-a-big-sendoff#:~:text=Finally%20he%20will%20be%20laid,at%20attention%20by%20his%20side.
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