Cara has served the residents of Monroe County for seventeen years in the Monroe County District Attorney's Office. From 1988 to 2005, Cara prosecuted over 2,000 felonies, including sixteen homicides, and put some of our community's most violent criminals behind bars.

The newspaper headlines tell the real story of the cases Cara took on, the crime victims she protected and the criminals who were convicted:

• Sex Abuser Will Spend Rest of Life in Prison
• Woman Gets 25 to 50 Years for Pimping Daughter
• Rochester Man Guilty in "Ride-by" Shooting
• Sex Abuser Receives 50 Years
• Man Gets 20 Years for Attempting to Slay Woman
• Man Gets 15 Years for Shooting Girl, 8
• Jurors Convict Man of Murder
• Man Gets 20 Years for Molestation, Torture
• Man Guilty in Fatal Stabbing
• Child Rapist Gets 25-Year Term

These compelling headlines speak volumes about Cara's successful career in the Monroe County District Attorney's Office and her dedication to pursuing justice in a wide range of challenging cases.

Beginning in 1988, Cara prosecuted misdemeanors and violations, including DWI, in the Local Courts Bureau of the DA's Office. In 1989, she was promoted to the Special Investigations Bureau, where she prosecuted felony drug sale and possession. In 1993. Cara began two-years in the Major Felony Bureau where she prosecuted violent felonies including homicide, robbery, rape, assault, burglary and weapons possession.

Cara then spent ten years, from 1995-2005, Supervising  the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, where she prosecuted felony child abuse and domestic violence cases including rape, sexual abuse, serious assaults and homicide. During this time, Cara consistently carried one of the heaviest caseloads in the DA's Office while successfully managing the bureau and directing investigations.

 

Cara provided leadership and legal training on a regular basis to fellow prosecutors, police and child protective workers.  In addition to responding routinely to individual requests for advice, Cara also served as an instructor for training programs presented by the Public Safety Training Center, the Monroe County District Attorneys Office, the Bivona Child Advocacy Center and the Child Sexual Assault Resource Council.

During her tenure with the DA's Office, Cara earned a reputation as an aggressive and innovative prosecutor. In 1997, Cara was the first prosecutor in Monroe County to seek and obtain a Court Order to allow an 8-year old girl to testify against her mother at trial by the use of two-way closed circuit television.  Using technology, the young victim was able to testify without facing her mother. The mother was convicted of prostituting her daughter to two men and sent to prison.  The two men, who were prosecuted separately, were convicted and imprisoned as well. 

Continuing a path of public service, Cara is currently Assistant Counsel for the Rochester City School District. She has served the RCSD in this capacity since 2005.

Cara's community service embodies her dedication to justice for our community, particularly victims of child abuse and domestic violence. Cara is currently a member of the Advisory Committee to the IMPACT Team of the Bivona Child Advocacy Center.  She has worked with the IMPACT Team to combat child abuse since 1995. She is also a member of the BCAC Speakers Bureau and volunteers as a Student Tutor for the Lawyers for Learning Program at RCSD School #29. Cara was a member of the Board of Directors of the Society for the Protection and Care of Children from 1997-2004. In addition, Cara is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association, the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys and the New York State District Attorneys Association.

Cara earned her law degree from Albany Law School in 1987 and her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. John Fisher College in 1984.

Cara and her husband, Don, live Mendon. They have three children including Betsey, Jason and Ben. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Honeoye Falls.