Frank Caprio, an 88-year-old retired municipal judge from Rhode Island and host of Caught in Providence, died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. His official social media accounts said he passed away peacefully following the illness. Caprio gained online fame for a folksy, compassionate courtroom style and short videos that humanized defendants and simplified justice; clips have amassed over 1 billion views. He frequently dismissed minor infractions, showed empathy in hearings, invited children to advise, and used his platform to highlight unequal access to the judicial system. He recently posted that he had "a setback," was hospitalized, and asked for prayers.
Caprio billed his courtroom as a place "where people and cases are met with kindness and compassion." He was known for dismissing tickets or showing kindness even when he handed out justice. Last week, Caprio posted a short video on Facebook about how he had "a setback," was back in the hospital and was asking that people "remember me in your prayers." Caprio's show was filmed in his courtroom and featured his folksy humor and compassion.
During his time on the bench, Caprio developed a persona at odds with many TV judges - more sympathetic and less confrontational and judgmental. In his bite-sized segments on YouTube, Caprio is often seen empathizing with those in his courtroom. Many of the infractions are also relatively minor, from failing to use a turn signal to a citation for a loud party.
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