‘Nicest Judge in the World’ Frank Caprio, Beloved Face of Caught in Providence, Dies at 88
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Frank Caprio, the Rhode Island municipal judge whose compassion and common-sense rulings turned him into a global internet sensation as the “Nicest Judge in the World,” has died at the age of 88 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
His death was announced Wednesday in a statement on his Instagram account. “Beloved for his compassion, humility and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond,” it read. “His warmth, humor and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.”
For nearly 40 years, Caprio presided over the Providence Municipal Court, handling minor traffic violations and municipal cases with a blend of empathy, humor, and humanity. What might have been mundane hearings became moments of connection that resonated with millions. His courtroom, first televised on local access, evolved into Caught in Providence — a program distributed nationally from 2018 to 2020 and later amplified online through viral video clips.
By the time he retired in January 2023, Caprio had become a household name far beyond Rhode Island, with 3.3 million followers on Instagram and 1.6 million on TikTok. His videos, featuring everything from forgiving parking fines for struggling families to inviting children to help him make rulings, were viewed hundreds of millions of times, spreading his philosophy of justice delivered with kindness.
“Judge Caprio’s unique brand of compassion and common-sense approach to justice caught the attention of daytime TV and social media audiences, making Caught in Providence a fan favorite,” said Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, co-presidents of Debmar-Mercury, the Lionsgate division that distributed the show nationally. The program earned multiple Daytime Emmy nominations, including a nomination for Caprio himself in 2023.
Caprio’s path to the bench reflected both hard work and deep roots in his community. Born Francesco Caprio in Providence on Nov. 24, 1936, the second of three sons of an Italian immigrant fruit peddler, he grew up with modest means. After graduating from Providence College in 1958, he taught American Government at Hope High School while attending night classes at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. In 1985, he was appointed to the Providence Municipal Court, where he later served as chief judge.
Outside the courtroom, Caprio was equally committed to public service. He served on the Providence City Council, practiced law, and was active in civic and charitable causes throughout Rhode Island.
His popularity, however, came from his ability to connect with ordinary people. In one viral clip, he asked a young boy to help decide his father’s parking ticket. In another, he waived fines for defendants struggling to make ends meet, often offering words of encouragement along the way. Fans said he represented what justice should look like: firm, but compassionate.
Caprio revealed his cancer diagnosis in late 2023. Despite his illness, he remained active online, posting updates and appealing for prayers from his hospital bed. “I’m back in the hospital now and I’m coming to you again, asking you to remember me in your prayers once more,” he wrote in a final message to his supporters.
Tributes poured in after his death. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee called him a “Rhode Island treasure” and ordered flags in the state to be flown at half-mast. “We will miss him dearly,” McKee said.
His son, Frank Caprio Jr., a former Rhode Island general treasurer, remembered his father as “always giving and looking to help others. His compassion spread far and wide due to a worldwide following that flocked to him. Hopefully, through our good deeds, his legacy will live on.”
Frank Caprio is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Joyce, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
For millions around the world, he was not just a judge but a reminder that fairness and kindness can exist together. His passing marks the end of a remarkable chapter, but the lessons of compassion he modeled will endure far beyond the walls of his Providence courtroom.