Frank Caprio has spent 38 years as a judge, making a name for himself as the chief judge of the municipal court of Providence, Rhode Island and gaining fame as the “nicest judge in the world” for his rulings on the reality show “Caught in Providence.”
Caprio’s empathy and compassion has shone through in his judgments, as he talked to defendants like real people, getting to know their personal stories and issuing judgments that helped the person get on their feet rather than punishing them for being poor or sick or taking care of their family.
In a video on Instagram , Caprio shared that his compassionate approach stemmed from a case brought before him on his very first day on the bench. When asked if there was a certain case from his years as a judge that he still thinks about today, Caprio shared that there was one case that made him feel “crumbled,” and which he still gets upset just thinking about.
On his first day as the judge in the courtroom, a woman was brought before him owing $300 in parking tickets. She said she couldn’t pay them because she didn’t have the money. He suggested a payment plan, but the woman said she wouldn’t be able to pay even with a payment plan. He felt she was being rude and arrogant and told her she had to pay the $300 or have her car booted.