We can connect ourselves form the past by looking at the different hings that our ancestors did.
In the 19th century, the poor represented a threat to the social order, so the government created laws to regulate them and provide them with some kind of care, but the administration and social work was carried out mostly by citizens who organized themselves to bring social aid to the poor and more disadvantaged, as well as creating shelters for poor people, attending them with education, health and legal assistance, this was how the movement was adding more volunteers to social activism to help their neighborhoods with the rescue of people from prostitución, diseases or any extreme situation they were dealing with.
Im not sure specifically what case you're referring to but lack of emotion in cases doesn't mean someone is guilty or unaffected. a lot of times a person is in shock or is trying to keep from being overly emotional.
