§ 22-4708 Disclosure of status of pending investigations and proceedings.

Police and other criminal justice agencies are allowed to share basic updates about an ongoing investigation or court case, even if the case involves a specific named person. This applies when someone asks about the case close to the time something actually happened, like an arrest, a hearing, or a new development in the investigation.

This means agencies do not have to stay completely silent about active cases. If a reporter, family member, or other person asks what is going on with a case shortly after an event occurs, the agency can give out information about where things stand, as long as sharing that information makes sense under the circumstances.

The rule gives agencies some flexibility, but it does not force them to release everything. They still need to use judgment about what is appropriate to share and when.