Victims for Justice was founded in 1985 after the loss of Janice Lienhart and Sharon Nahorney’s parents and their aunt, brutally murdered during a home invasion. Following the murder, a hearing was held but was closed to the public, denying all rights of the family to defend their lost loved ones. Directly following the hearing, Lienhart and Nahorney aggressively fought in the victims’ rights movement in Alaska. The two wanted to create a place where victims of violent crime could get professional assistance while also coping with their grief and trauma.
Since this time, VFJ has grown to support all Alaskans affected by violent crime, no matter the city or village. We are currently involved with the Anchorage Alliance for Violence Prevention, the new Mayor’s Taskforce on Sex Trafficking, as well as working with the Department of Corrections on their overhaul by making sure victims are heard and protected.