When there's a homicide, when a family member or a loved one is murdered, the police become the lifeline for that family. Having communication between the investigation department, the police, and the surviving family is very, very important. They want as much information as you can give them. They're not looking for information that will compromise the case or any evidence, but they need to feel that they're a part of that.
I think what we've lost sight of, or maybe we've never had sight of, is the fact that, yes, it is a crime against the state, but it's actually a crime against the family that's left behind. You can't intellectualize that away. That's exactly what happens. We really have a vested interest in knowing what is going on without compromising the case. That's all the way through the criminal justice system.
As we said before on the question with regard to plea bargaining, they just want to know. It's a lack of information. Victims of crime do not understand the legal system. It's a different world. It's a different language. They just want to know what it means. Will a plea bargain give them a sentence, and will going to trial perhaps means they will walk? They just need to know that.