Judge Frank Caprio
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:32
Judge Frank Caprio grew up in a working-class immigrant family in Providence, Rhode Island. The son of an Italian fruit peddler and milkman, he understood early on what struggle looked like. His father would take him and his brother on his early-morning milk truck runs, and it was at those house visits that Frank said he learned how to treat people with compassion and understanding.
In an interview with Eternal World Television network, he said, “I had the greatest privilege of growing up poor. When I was very young, my father put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Son, one day you’re going to be a lawyer, and you can’t judge poor people like us.’ It had a profound impact on me, and from that day on I never wanted to be anything other than an attorney.”
Frank worked his way through school, served in the National Guard, and eventually became a judge in the Providence Municipal Court. He quickly came into the public eye for his court hearings. But it wasn’t what he did—it was how he did it. On his show, Caught in Providence, Judge Caprio became known for his compassionate rulings. Whether it was a single mom with parking tickets or a teenager trying to pay off a fine, he listened, he asked questions, and most of all, he gave people the dignity of being seen.
A quote that came up often when researching Frank was his referencing his work as a judge and what allowed him to be so compassionate, “I just try to help people. I don’t wear a badge under my robe; I wear a heart.”
In December 2023, at age 87, Frank was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He began six months of chemotherapy and five radiation treatments. Throughout that journey, he leaned on prayer, his faith, and the belief that the grace he had offered others for decades would not be forgotten by God. Having shown mercy to so many people for so many years, Frank held on to a quiet confidence and trusted that he, too, would be shown mercy. In May 2024, he rang the bell at the end of his final cancer treatment. In recalling that moment, Frank said it wasn’t just about finishing his radiation; it was truly an affirmation of faith.
We are blessed to be surrounded by a Godly community. It can be easy to assume we’ve already “got” grace, and we’re not wrong; God’s grace is freely given. But grace isn’t automatic. If anything, we’re called to practice it more intentionally.
Today, Judge Caprio is 88 and recently published a book called Compassion in the Courtroom. In it, he says his message is simple: Be kind to others, be slow to judge, and always show mercy. So, as we go about our day, I’d encourage us to lead by Frank’s example: Wearing our hearts instead of our badges.
Ashley Carr Soter, Director of Young Adult Ministries
