MARY FARRAR
Solon, Maine
In 1984, ten years after her brother, William’s murder, federal laws were enacted to protect the rights of crime victims. Although not aware of it at the time of her brother’s death, the passing of these laws put Mary on a path that led to a career in victim advocacy.
Mary Farrar studied at the University of Maine at Farmington. She was hired by the Somerset District Attorney’s Office in February of 1990. For six years she advocated for children and adult victims of sexual assault, and victims of domestic violence, aggravated assaults and attempted murders. In addition to being an advocate, Mary educated crime victims about their rights as victims, encouraged them to exercise those rights, and guided them through the criminal justice system.
The State of Maine Office of the Attorney General hired Mary in 1996, where she worked for fourteen years providing direct services to surviving families and friends of murder victims.
The Maine Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children welcomed her as their victim advocate. More importantly, they embraced her into their unique group as a fellow family member of a murdered victim. She is on the board of directors and remains an active member. The members of the Maine Chapter continue to provide her with emotional support and friendship and are her extended family.
Mary was instrumental in the planning and success of the Maine Chapter’s first Victim’s Rights Week in 2006, and in organizing Maine’s first National Day of Remembrance for Murdered Victims in 2007. These have become annual remembrance programs and continue to be events that raise awareness about the aftermath of murder.
Mary was the State of Maine Office of the Attorney General Employee of the Year in 2000. She has served as a member of many elected and appointed panel positions throughout her career, including: the Maine Homicide Review Panel, the Department of Corrections Victim’s Advisory Group, the Maine Elder Death Review Panel, and the Maine Commission to End Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Mary has testified before Maine Legislative Committees, and is a past panel member for the Impact of Crime Program at the Maine Correctional Center and the Maine Correctional Reentry Network as a representative and advisor for the crime victim community. In 2010 she was a member of a working group involved in a bill for the enactment of Elder Abuse legislation.
She has also facilitated training on trauma and death notification practices for the Muskie School Social Worker Studies at the University of Southern Maine and the Maine State Police, local law enforcement agencies and Emergency Medical Services in Southern Maine.
In December 2009, Mary was hired by the Department of Corrections as a victim advocate. She provided services in regard to restitution and notification of release of prisoners to crime victims.
After twenty-one years of services to crime victims, she retired from her position as a Victim Advocate in October 2011. She continues to serve on the Department of Correction’s Victim Advisory Group and work on behalf of crime victim’s rights as well as watch over legislative bills that have a direct impact on crime victims.
Mary received the distinguished Father Ken Czillinger Professional Award from the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children in August of 2011 for her contribution, dedication and sensitivity to the victims of violent crime.
Solon, Maine
In 1984, ten years after her brother, William’s murder, federal laws were enacted to protect the rights of crime victims. Although not aware of it at the time of her brother’s death, the passing of these laws put Mary on a path that led to a career in victim advocacy.Mary Farrar studied at the University of Maine at Farmington. She was hired by the Somerset District Attorney’s Office in February of 1990. For six years she advocated for children and adult victims of sexual assault, and victims of domestic violence, aggravated assaults and attempted murders. In addition to being an advocate, Mary educated crime victims about their rights as victims, encouraged them to exercise those rights, and guided them through the criminal justice system.
The State of Maine Office of the Attorney General hired Mary in 1996, where she worked for fourteen years providing direct services to surviving families and friends of murder victims.
The Maine Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children welcomed her as their victim advocate. More importantly, they embraced her into their unique group as a fellow family member of a murdered victim. She is on the board of directors and remains an active member. The members of the Maine Chapter continue to provide her with emotional support and friendship and are her extended family.
Mary was instrumental in the planning and success of the Maine Chapter’s first Victim’s Rights Week in 2006, and in organizing Maine’s first National Day of Remembrance for Murdered Victims in 2007. These have become annual remembrance programs and continue to be events that raise awareness about the aftermath of murder.
Mary was the State of Maine Office of the Attorney General Employee of the Year in 2000. She has served as a member of many elected and appointed panel positions throughout her career, including: the Maine Homicide Review Panel, the Department of Corrections Victim’s Advisory Group, the Maine Elder Death Review Panel, and the Maine Commission to End Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Mary has testified before Maine Legislative Committees, and is a past panel member for the Impact of Crime Program at the Maine Correctional Center and the Maine Correctional Reentry Network as a representative and advisor for the crime victim community. In 2010 she was a member of a working group involved in a bill for the enactment of Elder Abuse legislation.
She has also facilitated training on trauma and death notification practices for the Muskie School Social Worker Studies at the University of Southern Maine and the Maine State Police, local law enforcement agencies and Emergency Medical Services in Southern Maine.
In December 2009, Mary was hired by the Department of Corrections as a victim advocate. She provided services in regard to restitution and notification of release of prisoners to crime victims.
After twenty-one years of services to crime victims, she retired from her position as a Victim Advocate in October 2011. She continues to serve on the Department of Correction’s Victim Advisory Group and work on behalf of crime victim’s rights as well as watch over legislative bills that have a direct impact on crime victims.
Mary received the distinguished Father Ken Czillinger Professional Award from the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children in August of 2011 for her contribution, dedication and sensitivity to the victims of violent crime.
