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Can an early intervention programme for domestic abuse offenders support better outcomes for families?

Key research findings from a national evaluation of Project CARA (Cautioning and Relationship Abuse), were presented at Northumbria University this week, as part of a conference, called ‘Turning that Ship Around’ which explored ways to improve outcomes for families involved with the justice system.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (Crime survey from England and Wales) estimate that 2.3 million people aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse in the last year.

The CARA scheme was developed in 2011 as a conditional caution offered by police to adults involved in first time offences of domestic violence and abuse of low or medium risk – as a way of intervening and preventing further offending. It is delivered by the Hampton Trust.

Adults who are offered CARA undertake workshops that increase awareness of their abusive behaviour and the safety of partners and children. In contrast to restorative justice, CARA is an awareness-raising intervention, that utilises a trauma informed approach and motivational interviewing to address behaviours and make changes.

It supports offenders in understanding what domestic abuse is, the harm their actions have caused, the impact this has had on their partners, children and relationships, and how to make different choices going forward and prevent these harmful behaviours from becoming more entrenched.

The national evaluation of the CARA scheme began in 2022, funded by the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) National Priority Research Consortium for Health and Care Inequalities, hosted by the NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria.

It aimed to assess the impact of Project CARA following its rollout across several police force areas in England.

Read more about the national evaluation of Project CARA

The evaluation has been led by Dr Sara Morgan from ARC Wessex and University of Southampton, supported by researchers from Northumbria, Newcastle, Sheffield, Bristol, Birmingham and Leeds Beckett Universities. It also involved the Hampton Trust, Restorative Solutions and police forces from across the UK. The research also included significant contributions from people with lived experience of domestic violence and abuse.

Research evidence outlining the benefits and considerations for police forces using the CARA conditional cautioning method, as well as victim perspectives, were shared at the conference, followed by a series of breakout discussions, and speakers focused on prevention, rehabilitation and recovery to address the cycle of reoffending.

Dame Vera Baird, former Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales and current chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, was among the conference speakers and told delegates of the importance of specific interventions such as CARA which involve long-term victim support.

The conference was co-convened by Northumbria University’s Dr Will McGovern and Rachel Wease, who advocates for women’s recovery. It was supported by colleagues linked to the NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria, including Professor Ruth McGovern, Dr Hayley Alderson, Dr Steph Scott (Newcastle University) and Professor Monique Lhussier (Northumbria University).

It was also supported by Northumbria University’s  Centre for Health and Social Equity (CHASE), Newcastle City Council Combatting Drugs Partnership and representatives of Northumbia University Gendered Violence and Abuse Interdisciplinary Research Theme.

Artists from More Than Minutes were on hand throughout the day to capture ideas and discussion topics through visual art.

Photo: Members of the research team with Dame Vera Baird, at the conference (Credit: Northumbria University)