The CARA (Cautioning and Relationship Abuse) intervention is an early intervention for domestic abuse offenders who have received a Conditional Caution. It greatly reduced domestic abuse reoffending, with rates falling by 65% in the West Midlands and 41% in Hampshire, within a year of the intervention. It also offered significant economic benefits, with conservative estimates of savings ranging from £3.24 to £11.10 per £1 invested in CARA (Cautioning and Relationship Abuse).
In the context of approximately 2.3 million people in England and Wales experiencing domestic abuse each year, with women constituting over 2/3 of the victims, the CARA intervention aims to help domestic abuse offenders recognize their harmful behaviours, understand the impact on victims, and develop the motivation and skills to make positive changes and prevent future abuse.
Following Prof Karavias’ studies of the CARA intervention in the West Midlands and Hampshire, he recommends expanding CARA nationwide to reduce domestic abuse reoffending and generate economic savings. The government should prioritise evidence-based interventions like CARA to enhance public safety, reduce justice system burdens, and improve victim outcomes.