>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> ONE OF THE OFFICERS CALLED US AND SAID I'M SO SORRY, WE HAVE FOUND DAVID AT 6:23 IN THE MORNING, THE DOORBELL RINGS.

IT IS TWO MARINES IN THEIR DRESS BLUES.

THEY SAID I'M SORRY YOUR SON IS GONE.

>> DOUGLAS WROTE ESSAYS ABOUT CHARTER FEET.

HE THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT IT WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOW WHITE AMERICANS THAT THE HUMANITY OF BLACK PEOPLE WAS THE SAME AS THEIR HUMANITY.

>> DO YOU WANT TO BE A JUDGE?

SAY YES.

>> YES.

[LAUGHTER] >> GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

>> NOT.

[LAUGHTER] ♪ >> GOOD EVENING WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WHITLEY -- WEEKLY.

>> WHILE TRAUMA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS TO TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES DIDN'T HAVE A NAME UNTIL 1980.

POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER OR PTSD RECOGNIZED THE PEOPLE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE SUFFERED FROM LONG-TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH TRAUMA A MORE LIQUID TO ATTEMPT OR COMMIT SUICIDE.

THIS HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH WAR.

WORD OF WARNING, THE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THIS STORY MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME VIEWERS.

>> SUICIDE IS A DISEASE OF ISOLATION.

YOU'RE FEELING ALONE WHETHER YOU ARE PHYSICALLY ALONE OR YOU FEEL THAT WAY.

I THINK THERE'S ACTIVE-DUTY SUICIDES EVERY DAY.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T DIE BY SUICIDE IN THE MILITARY, THEY GET OUT AND BECOME A VETERAN SUICIDE.

YOU ARE DEFINITELY MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY SUICIDE AS A VETERAN.

>> ONE IS WAY TOO MANY.

WE ARE PUTTING A FULL-COURT PRESS ON TRYING TO GET VETERAN SUICIDES DOWN TO ZERO.

IN FISCAL YEAR 22, WE LOST SEVEN OF OUR VETERANS TO SUICIDE.

THE V.A.

DIDN'T DO THE BEST JOB AT TAKING CARE OF VIETNAM VETERANS WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM VIETNAM, SO WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND THOSE VETERANS TO GET THEM INTO THE V.A.

TO CONTINUE TO DROP THAT NUMBER DOWN.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU DON'T KNOW IF AN OVERDOSE WAS INTENTIONAL SUICIDE OR ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE.

THE QUESTION COULD BE HOW MANY.

WE ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS TO GET BETTER ACCESS TO CARE.

SOMETIMES WE GET A LITTLE CAUGHT UP IN THE NUMBER.

IF WE CAN GET 17 DOWN TO 15, THAT'S GREAT.

IT'S STILL TOO MANY.

>> WHEN YOU'RE EXPERIENCING ALL THESE CRAZY THINGS, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.

I DID TWO TOURS TO IRAQ.

2015 AND 2016.

WE WERE SUPPORTING THE IRAQI ARMY.

WE GOT SHOT AT WITH INDIRECT FIRE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME TREATING IRAQI CASUALTIES.

YOU CAN'T ESCAPE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE SEEN.

I SAW A LOT OF IRAQIS THAT WERE VERY DAMAGED.

IT'S HARD TO PUT THOSE THINGS AWAY.

THEY NEVER GO AWAY.

THEY GREW UP LEARNING ABOUT THE WAR ON TERROR.

DAVID WAS THRILLED TO GO THERE, TO LEAD A UNIT.

HE WASN'T PREPARED FOR WHAT HE WAS GOING TO EXPERIENCE WHEN HE GOT THERE.

THERE WERE TIMES HE WOULD CALL IN THE MIDDLE THE NIGHT AND SAY I'M SCARED.

THERE'S BOMBS GOING OFF EVERYWHERE.

DAVID CAME BACK TO THE STATES BEFORE HE WAS SENT TO 29 CALIFORNIA TO PREPARE FOR HIS TOUR.

HE WOULD TELL ABOUT SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN.

DID WE KNOW THAT HE PROBABLY CARRIED SOME PTSD WHEN HE RETURNED?

YEAH, WE DID.

YOU DIDN'T PICK UP ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT WAS PART OF THE JOB.

THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL DID.

HE LEFT TO CALIFORNIA, HE WAS SUPER EXCITED.

>> HE WAS A MARINES MARINE.

HE WAS DEDICATED TO HIS CRAFT, HE WAS GOOD DUDE ALL AROUND.

>> AFTER HE GOT SETTLED ON BASE, OUR DAUGHTER THAT LIVES OUT THERE IS CALLING US IN THE MIDDLE THE NIGHT MOM, WE CAN'T GET A HOLD OF DAVID.

SOMETHING IS WRONG.

ONE OF THE OFFICERS CALLED US AND SAID MISSES KAVANAUGH, I'M SO SORRY WE HAVE FOUND DAVID.

♪ AT SUNRISE, THE DOORBELL RINGS.

IT IS TWO RINGS IN THEIR DRESS BLUES.

THEY TELL US THAT OUR SON IS GONE.

>> I CLOSE MY EYES AND I CAN STILL SEE HIM ON THE GROUND.

WITH A DONE IN HIS HAND IN A POOL OF HIS OWN BLOOD.

THIS IMAGES NEVER GO AWAY.

AS YOU GET FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY, IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER TO MOVE PAST IT.

>> HIS TWIN BROTHER TOMMY, HE HAD GOTTEN OUT THE MARINE CORPS, WENT THROUGH FIREFIGHTING SCHOOL AND BECAME A PARAMEDIC.

YOU COULD TELL HE HAD THIS ANGER THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

HE HAD THE SENSE OF ABANDONMENT BY HIS BROTHER BECAUSE THEY WERE IDENTICAL TWINS.

ONE DAY, HE WROTE LETTER TO OUR WHOLE FAMILY AND SAID I CAME INTO THIS WORLD CONNECTED TO MY BROTHER AND I CAN'T WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SEE HIS FACE.

AND KNOW THAT HE ISN'T HERE.

SOME GOING TO GO BE WITH MY BROTHER.

HE WENT BACK TO HIS APARTMENT AND COMMITTED SUICIDE.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> BECAUSE OF MY LINE OF WORK, I KNOW 2530 HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE.

IS A HUGE CULTURE OF ALCOHOL USE IN THE MILITARY.

WE DRINK WHEN WERE HAPPY, OR SAD, WE DRINK TO CELEBRATE AND TO MOURN.

WHEN YOU'RE UNDER THE INFLUENCE TO THE POINT THAT YOU NO LONGER SEE SUICIDE AS A BAD IDEA, IT MAKES IT SOMETHING YOU COULD BRING YOURSELF TO DO.

I THINK A LOT OF VETERANS HAVE HAD SUICIDAL IDEATION.

I WOULD BE LYING IF I TOLD YOU I HADN'T HAD THE THOUGHTS.

I HAD A GUN IN MY HAND ONCE.

I CAME O AND PUT IT DOWN.

I WISH I COULD STATE THERE IS A WAY TO END VETERAN SUICIDE, BUT THERE ISN'T.

ANYBODY THAT SUGGESTS OTHERWISE IS LYING OR NOT BEING REALISTIC.

WE CAN ABSOLUTELY REDUCE THE FREQUENCY AND THE WAY WE DO THAT IS WE GET ENGAGED.

GETTING THEM ENGAGED IN OTHER THINGS WHETHER IT'S EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND -- ANIMALS, I THINK DOGS ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET VETERANS ENGAGED.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH INTENSE GRIEF, YOU HAVE TO DEFINED A PURPOSE FOR YOUR PAIN.

CANINES FOR WORRIERS -- WARRIORS, THEIR MISSION IS TO PREVENT WARRIOR SUICIDE THROUGH ASSIGNING A SERVICE DOG.

TO GIVE THEM A DOG TO WHERE THEY CAN NOW GO IN THE WORLD.

IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE HEALING PROCESS FOR US AS WELL TO HAVE THESE DOGS IN OUR HOME OR THEY GIVE US COMFORT AND SUPPORT THEM GET TO TURN OVER THE LEASH TO ANOTHER WARRIOR BECAUSE OUR SON DIDN'T HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, WE WANT TO GIVE THIS OPPORTUNITY SO NO OTHER PARENT GETS THE PHONE CALL WE GOT.

>> IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING IN THE COMMUNITY.

GETTING REENGAGED IS THE FIRST STEP TO MENTAL HEALTH.

>> AT COMIC-CON, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF VETERANS THAT WE WOULDN'T NORMALLY SEE.

THEY AREN'T AWARE OF OUR SERVICES.

WELCOME HOME.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE VET CENTER?

WE ARE PART OF THE V.A., BUT WE ARE SEPARATE FROM THE MEDICAL CENTER.

WE DO READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICES.

WOMEN LOSE THE MILITARY SERVICE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NEXT.

THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO FOCUS ON GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE NEW THINGS.

WE HAVE LICENSED CLINICIANS WHO CAN COME IN AND TALK TO.

IT'S CONFIDENTIAL.

WE DO A LOT OF VETERAN ENGAGEMENT PIECES.

WE DID THE ARCHERY.

I HAD THREE VIETNAM VETERANS WITH ME ON A FISHING CHARTER FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE GOAL IS FOR YOU TO GO DO IT AGAIN.

WE WANT THIS TO BE A NEW HOBBY.

HOBBIES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE LAST THING WE WANT IS FOR VETERANS TO GO HOME AND DO NOTHING.

WE HAVE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS FOR VETERANS.

THAT'S WHEN I GET STUCK IN OUR OWN HEADS AND START THINKING TOO MUCH.

WE FIND THAT A LOT OF VETERANS, LET'S SAY ONE HAS VIOLENT TENDENCIES, THEY TEND TO HAVE VIOLENT TENDENCIES IN THE GAME THEN AFTER THE SESSION, OUR CLINICIAN GOES OVER THAT WITH THEM AND SAYS WHY DID YOU ATTACK THAT GUY, HE WASN'T DOING ANYTHING.

WE NEED TO BE ENGAGED AND VETERANS ARE MORE ENGAGED WHEN THEY WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

IF YOU NEED SOMETHING, ANYTHING YOU CALL ME.

ONE MARINE TO ANOTHER, IT'S THAT EASY.

SEMPER FI.

WE HAVE A CLINICIAN ON SITE IN CASE ANY VETERANS APPROACH US AND ARE IN CRISIS AND THE NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.

WE HAVE FULL CONFIDENTIALITY ACCESS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN COME HERE AND GET THE LEVEL OF CARE?

JUST IN GENERAL, WE HOPE THEY KNOW ABOUT US.

>> I WILL STOP BY AND SEE YOU GUYS.

>> PEOPLE ARE BEING MORE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEAS OF THERAPY, APPROACHING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE.

THERE IS STILL A STIGMA.

THERE TOLD FOR UP TO 30 YEARS THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS FOR THE WEEK THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT.

>> WHAT WERE THE SIGNS THAT I DIDN'T SEE?

THERE IS NO PLACE WITHIN THE SYSTEM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MILITARY ACCEPT THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN TALK ABOUT THESE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.

>> IS CHANGING.

IF THEY SERVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE GETTING ACCESS TO THE CARE IS EASY, ACCESSIBLE, ACCESSIBLE.

WHEN THEY GET OUT, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE.

>> IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT SUICIDE, VETERANS IN CRISIS CAN GO AT NO COST TO ANY V.A.

OR NON-V8 FACILITY FOR TREATMENT.

VETERANS DO NOT NEED TO BE ENROLLED IN THE SYSTEM TO USE THIS BENEFIT.

IF YOU ARE A VETERAN IN CRISIS OR CONCERNED ABOUT ONE WHO IS, CONTACT THE VETERANS CRISIS LINE.

TO RECEIVE 24/7 CONFIDENTIAL SUPPORT.

WE NOW TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT AN AMERICAN WHO WAS A FUGITIVE AIDED BY FRIENDS IN RHODE ISLAND AT ENDURING AND DANGEROUS ESCAPE.

HE WENT FROM BEING ON THE RUN TO BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AMERICANS OF THE 19TH CENTURY.

TONIGHT HOW THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY PLAYED A ROLE IN THE LIFE OF AN ABOLITIONIST AS HE TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS TO FREEDOM.

>> THROUGHOUT HIS WHOLE LIFE, FROM THE TIME THAT HE GAINS FREEDOM, HE WORKS CONSTANTLY FOR FREEDOM.

FOR FREEDOM FOR HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS MEANING THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

HE SPOKE OUT FOR WOMEN.

AT ONE TIME, HE WAS IN ENGLAND AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE ENGLISH TO TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF THE NECK OF THE IRISH.

HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WORKED ALL THE TIME FOR EQUALITY.

>> THAT ACTIVIST WAS BORN A SOUTHERN SLAVE.

FREDERICK GUSTUS WASHINGTON BAILEY, LATER CHANGED HIS NAME TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO ELUDE CAPTURE.

HE ESCAPED BONDAGE ARRIVING IN NEWPORT IN 1838.

THIS HISTORIAN EXPLAINS WHY HE COULDN'T STAY THERE.

>> NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND IS A SLAVE STATE.

ONE THING PEOPLE REALLY FORGET IS HOW INVOLVED RHODE ISLAND WAS IN THE SLAVE TRADE.

MANY OF THE SLAVE SHIPS THAT CAME TO THE UNITED STATES CAME INTO RHODE ISLAND.

>> DOUGLASS AND HIS NEW WIFE FIND A HOME.

THIS HOMESTEAD STILL STANDS AND WAS A STATION ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

THEY WERE WHISKED BY STAGECOACH HERE TO NEW BEDFORD.

>> FROM THAT CORNER DOWN ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS IS ALL ABOLITION ROW.

>> BLAKE SAYS IT IS TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD NOW THE HISTORIC DISTRICT ABOLITION ROW THAT FREDERICK DOUGLASS IS SENT.

HE HAS HIS FIRST TASTE OF LIFE AS A FREE MAN IN THE LIFE OF MR. AND MISSES JOHNSON.

>> WHAT ROLE DID THIS HOUSE HAVE IN SHAPING THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS?

>> NATHAN AND POLLY JOHNSON WERE PART OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

WHEN ANNA AND FREDERICK COME HERE, THEY HAVE JUST BEEN MARRIED THREE OR FOUR DAYS.

BUT FREDERICK IS 20 YEARS OLD.

WE FORGET THAT HE HAD A FOUNDATION STORY.

THIS HOUSE IS PART OF THE FOUNDATION STORY.

>> THE JOHNSON'S HOUSE STOOD SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THOSE OF QUAKER FAMILIES.

ANTISLAVERY QUAKERS WERE ACTIVE IN THE TRADE AND EMPLOYED MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

>> NEW BEDFORD IS A UNIQUE PLACE AT THAT TIME.

IT IS A BUSTLING PORT.

ALSO A PLACE WITH A LARGE FREE BLACK POPULATION.

MASSACHUSETTS AND SLAVERY IN 1783.

SO PEOPLE HERE ARE FREE AND ARE ABLE TO GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AS CITIZENS.

>> DOUGLASS FINDS WORK AND MARBLES AT THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE TOWN.

>> HE IS ABLE TO VOTE HERE.

HE PAID HIS POLL TAX $1.50 AND IN THE 1840'S, HE IS VOTING.

NEW BEDFORD AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE RUNNING PEOPLE FOR ELECTIONS FOR DIFFERENT POSTS AND POSITIONS.

NEW BEDFORD TEACHES HIM THE POSSIBILITY AND THE HOPE OF WHAT FREEDOM MIGHT REALLY LOOK LIKE IF PEOPLE WERE EQUAL.

>> DOUGLASS IS ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND CHURCH AND ACT AS A MINISTER.

>> HE TALKS ABOUT GETTING THE SACRAMENT IN ONE OF THE CHURCHES WHERE HE IS SITTING IN THE BACK PEW, HE GETS THE SACRAMENTS LAST AND HE CAN'T BELIEVE IT AND HE WRITES ABOUT THAT.

HE WRITES ABOUT HOW CHRISTIANS WERE HYPOCRITICAL.

>> AS GOOD AS IT WAS, IT WASN'T PERFECT.

>> HE IS ALSO ABLE TO WRITE AND PUT LITTLE EDITORIALS IN THE PAPER.

HE DEVELOPS A VOICE WHICH HE WOULD NOT HAVE DEVELOPED ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> THAT VOICE BRINGS AN INVITATION TO SPEAK IN NANTUCKET, TRANSFORMATIONAL MOMENT WHEN THE AUDIENCE MEETS THE ELOQUENT LITERATE SELF EDUCATED DOUGLASS.

>> HE SPEAKS AND TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE AS AN ENSLAVED PERSON.

AT THAT TIME, MANY OF THE ABOLITIONIST HAD NEVER MET SLAVE SO HE BECOMES REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE CAN COMMUNICATE THAT MESSAGE OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE ENSLAVED.

HE WOULD TALK ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER WHO HE ONLY SAW A COUPLE OF TIMES HIS WHOLE LIFE.

THE BEATINGS THAT HE HAD.

>> DOUGLASS NOT ONLY GAVE A POWERFUL FIRST-PERSON VOICE TO THE EVILS OF SLAVERY, HE GAVE A FACE.

>> HE HAD A WHOLE RATIONALE FOR THAT.

HE WROTE ESSAYS ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY.

HE THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT PHOTOGRAPHY WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW WHITE AMERICANS THAT THE HUMANITY OF BLACK PEOPLE WAS THE SAME AS THEIR HUMANITY.

BUT HE WAS ALSO LOOKING AT THE IDEA THAT AT THE TIME, WHITE PEOPLE WERE MAKING SURE THERE WERE STEREOTYPES OF BLACK PEOPLE.

THAT THEY WOULD DO PICTURES THAT WERE DEMEANING, THAT DEPICTED THEM AS INTELLIGENT.

HE WAS PUSHING THE WHOLE IDEA THAT THAT WASN'T TRUE.

>> DOUGLASS AND HIS FAMILY LIVED IN NEW BEDFORD FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

HE RETURNED TO VISIT AND LECTURED AT THE OPERA HOUSE AND MAINTAINED HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH THE RICE FAMILY.

RECENTLY DESCENDANTS WHO STILL OWNED THE HOME, FOUND A LETTER FROM AUGUST -- DOUGLASS.

IT BEGINS THESE ARE STORMY DAYS.

BLAKE FOUND THAT SHE ALSO HAS A CONNECTION TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

>> THESE ARE MY ABOLITIONIST ANCESTORS WILLIAM AND EMILIA PIPER.

I'M AN EDUCATOR AND I'M RESEARCHING AND WHAT HAPPENS?

I COME ACROSS MY FAMILY'S NAMES AND PAPERS.

>> HER GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS WERE ALSO CONDUCTORS ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

>> WE ARE PROUD OF THAT AND PROUD OF A NUMBER OF ABOLITIONISTS WHO WORKED VERY HARD TO END THE WHOLE SYSTEM OF ENSLAVEMENT.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS NOW UNDERWAY ON ABOLITION ROW PART.

AT ITS HEART WILL BE A STATUE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

IT DEPICTS HIM AND HIS WATERFRONT WORK IN CLOTHING AND WILL BEAR HIS QUOTE TRUTH, JUSTICE, LIBERTY, AND HUMANITY WILL ALL -- ULTIMATELY PREVAIL.

THE SAME WORDS INSCRIBED ON THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL WHEN THEY GO TO THE PARK?

>> I WANT THEM TO FEEL HOW CIVIC LEAGUE ENGAGED PEOPLE WERE AND USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BE ENGAGED.

BE ENGAGED IN SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THOSE PEOPLE WERE DOING.

WE ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

♪ FOR MORE ON THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND THE ROLE HE PLAYED IN SECURING FREEDOM FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS, YOU CAN WATCH A DOCUMENTARY BECOMING FREDERICK DOUGLASS STREAMING NOW ON RHODE ISLAND PBS PASSPORT.

JUDGE FRANK CAPRIO GIVES US HIS RETIRED AFTER SERVING ON THE BENCH FOR 40 YEARS.

IT ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO PROFITED FROM HIS TELEVISION SERIES.

HE IS KNOWN FOR GIVING PEOPLE A HEAVY DOSE OF KINDNESS AND A CHANCE TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

LAST FALL, WE ASKED HIM WHY HE BELIEVES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF SECOND CHANCES.

>> I HAVEN'T MET THE PERSON YET WHO HASN'T MADE A MISTAKE AND NEEDED A SECOND CHANCE.

IT'S PART OF LIFE.

>> IT'S $100, I'M GOING TO DISMISS IT.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

NEVER HAVE I MET JUDGE LIKE YOU.

>> I DON'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I WAS TOLD TO DO MY PARENTS.

MY NAME IS JUDGE FRANK CAPRIO.

THIS IS MY TAKE ON SECOND CHANCES.

I BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES BECAUSE IT IS PART OF LIFE.

IT GIVES A PERSON THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE THIR MISTAKES BUT TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT IT.

IN OUR DAILY LIFE, I WOULD SUSPECT MOST OF US MAKE AT LEAST FIVE MISTAKES PER DAY.

SIMPLE STUFF.

MAYBE WE SAY SOMETHING WE DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY.

SIMPLE STUFF.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAJOR MISTAKES, SOME PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES.

THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT SITUATION.

>> I WAS GOING THROUGH THE BLOOD WORK FOR MY BOY, HE IS HANDICAPPED.

>> YOU WERE TAKING HER SON TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE?

>> YES, I TAKE HIM FOR BLOODWORK EVERY TWO WEEKS.

HE HAS CANCER.

>> YOU ARE A GOOD MAN.

>> MY ENTIRE LIFE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN SECOND CHANCES.

I WAS BORN INTO A POOR FAMILY OF IMMIGRANTS.

GOING TO SCHOOL WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GO TO COLLEGE, I HAD TO WORK TO GET THROUGH COLLEGE BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

THEN IT WAS TIME TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

I COULDN'T GO TO LAW SCHOOL WHEN I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE FAMILY.

I HAD A SECOND CHANCE.

I HAD A JOB TEACHING SCHOOL IN PROVIDENCE, I HAD A SECOND CHANCE I WAS ABLE TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

I HAD A SECOND CHANCE AGAIN.

I WAS MARRIED, I WAS RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE SECOND CHANCES FOR ME.

MY FIRST TIME I WAS ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL, I WAS ELECTED FOR EIGHT YEARS.

THEN I RAN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND I WAS DEFEATED.

I GOT A SECOND CHANCE IN LIFE.

SECOND CHANCE LED TO ME BEING A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE WHICH IS OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME AND GIVEN ME AN UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OTHERS A SECOND CHANCE BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES.

>> YOU WANT TO BE A JUDGE?

SAY YES.

>> YES.

>> IS YOUR MOTHER GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

>> NOT.

[LAUGHTER] >> I GIVE MANY SECOND CHANCES AND I SEE PEOPLE WHO PROSPER AFTER HAVING A SECOND CHANCE AND OTHERS WHO FAIL.

ONE THAT IS MORE ENDURING IS I HAD A YOUNG MAN COME BEFORE ME NOT TOO LONG AGO.

>> I'M WAVING THE PENALTY.

YOU'RE FREE TO GO.

>> I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT MY LIFE.

>> LET ME GET COMFORTABLE.

[LAUGHTER] >> I WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU BECAUSE 20 YEARS AGO, I WAS A BAD BOY LIKE I WOULD BE HERE EVERY MONTH TO GET A SPEEDING TICKET, DRUNKEN-DRIVING.

I SPENT $53,000 TO BE A CITIZEN.

I HAVE 16 YEARS CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.

YOU TOLD ME BY THAT TIME I AM 18 YEARS OLD AND YOU SAY WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE LATER?

DO YOU WANT TO BE IN JAIL?

DO YOU WANT TO DIE OR DO YOU WANT TO BE SOMEBODY?

I SAID I WANT TO BE SOMEBODY.

>> I WANT TO HEAR IT.

>> I TOOK MY -- CDL TRUCK DRIVER.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> THAT'S GREAT.

THAT STORY HAS BEEN REPEATED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

THAT IS VERY REWARDING TO ME.

>> GOD LOVE YOU, CONGRATULATIONS ON TURNING YOUR LIFE AROUND.

COME UP HERE, I WANT TO SHAKE YOUR HAND.

SECOND CHANCES IN MY JUDGMENT ARE THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR MOST PEOPLE.

WE LEARN BY OUR MISTAKES AND WHEN WE ARE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE, THAT'S LIKE A NEW LIFE FOR US.

IT'S FRESH BREATH OF AIR.

IT'S LIKE THE SUNSHINE COMING OUT AFTER THE DARKNESS AND THAT'S WHY SECOND CHANCES ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

>> IN LATE JANUARY, THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ELECT HIM THE CHIEF JUDGE EMERITUS OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, PLEASE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ONLINE.

LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST ON YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORM.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪