Mary Lou Leary

Ms. Mary Lou Leary is an independent public policy consultant on criminal justice, public safety and drug abuse. She has 30 years of criminal justice experience at the federal, state and local levels, with an extensive background in criminal prosecutions, government leadership and victim advocacy.

During the Obama administration, she was the deputy director for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, where she oversaw its Office of Policy, Research and Budget.

Prior to that appointment, she was the principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Office of Justice Programs. She also served as acting assistant attorney general for the Office of Justice Programs from March 2012 to June 2013. Leary served as United States attorney for the District of Columbia, as well as principal assistant and senior counsel to the United States attorney, and chief of the Superior Court Division of the United States Attorney’s Office. From 2005 to 2009, she was executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, a leading victim advocacy organization in Washington, D.C.

Leary received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law, a master’s degree in education from Ohio State University, and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Syracuse University.