Judge Caprio waived man's parking penalty. Then discovered he had saved the man's life 20 years ago.
Some words of encouragement might make a huge difference in a person's life. Judge Frank Caprio didn't know that his words would save a man's life and encourage him to work for a better future. So he was really surprised when the man, Jose Jimenez, told his story 20 years after their interaction while getting his parking penalty waived at the court, per Caught in Providence. Caprio believed in seeing the good in people and giving them a chance. He passed away at 88 on August 20, 2025, after a two-year-long battle with pancreatic cancer, per a statement issued by his family on his Instagram, @therealfrankcaprio.
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Jimenez, who owned a landscaping business, revealed that he received a parking ticket for parking his truck in the street. He had already paid $20 for the parking ticket, but the authorities received the money late and wanted him to pay a penalty. So he wondered if his penalty could be waived. The judge waived the penalty and told the man that he was free to go. "I want to tell you something about my life," Jimenez cut in. "I was a bad boy. I want to tell you 'thank you' because 20 years ago I'd be here every month to get a speeding limit ticket, drunken driving and I spent $53,000 to be a citizen." The man had been a citizen of America for 16 years when he met Caprio again and recounted what had happened when he was 18.
"Do you want to be in jail? Or do you want to be somebody?" Jimenez said, repeating what the judge had told him all that time ago. "I said I want to be somebody. I took my CDL. I am a truck driver, thank you." Caprio looked at the man with a big smile on his face and expressed, "You were down and it's not a crime to get knocked down in life. But it's a sin not to get up." The judge explained that Jimenez was down and was suffering, even though he didn't remember what happened all those years ago. "But now that you have brought it to my attention, it is something I try to do with people." He added, "Sometimes people say I am too lenient. I am not trying to be lenient, I am trying to help people, trying to bring out something in them."
Caprio felt that he must have recognized that spark in Jimenez. "God love you! Congratulations on turning your life around. Come up here, I want to shake your hand." The judge shook the man's hand and wished him good luck before parting ways. "I believe everyone has the right to be judged with kindness, consideration and common sense," Caprio told the camera. "I am humbled to hear that my words of encouragement had such a positive impact on Jose. I encourage everyone to look at the good in people. You'd be surprised how easy it is to find." People applauded the judge for his kindness in the comments section of the video.
A user wrote, "I’m not trying to be lenient. I’m trying to help people. Ladies and gentlemen, take note. This is what a true public servant does. They serve the people before themselves. And this man has always tried his best to see the good in people and that’s what true reform is." Tsedal Lema Midseka commented, "Wow, what a big deal to change someone's life by just saying some good, powerful words!" Jide Taiwo remarked, "This really touched me. Listening to Jose on how his life has turned around for good because of the encouraging words from Judge Caprio. May God continue to bless Judge Caprio in every area of his life, in the name of Jesus, amen."