HERE IN CHICAGO CALLAND OF A KNEE AT THE POLLEN.

ANDREW POPPA CHRISTMAS FROM NORTHWESTERN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THERE ARE 617 HOMICIDES IN CHICAGO LAST YEAR, ACCORDING THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MANY OF THOSE CASES CAN GO UNSOLVED, LEAVING FAMILIES IN LIMBO.

REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ JOINS US NOW FROM PILLS AND TO SHARE ONE MOTHER'S JOURNEY TO GETTING JUSTICE AND THE CHALLENGES IN SOLVING THESE CRIMES.

JOANNA.

>> PARIS, THAT MOTHER'S SON WAS COOL.

PEOPLE GOT THE 21 YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT AND KILLED HERE LAST YEAR.

HIS MOTHER HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ANSWERS EVER SENT BY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL PROCESS AND THE LAYERS.

IT TAKES TO FIND THE PERSON WHO KILLED HER SON.

>> I MEAN MEANT THE NO SUPRIYA THIS.

BUT THE ONLY THE WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE YOUNG ON THE WAY UP.

WE HAVE A BIT OF INNOCENT.

>> MANAEA PULLED A SHARES PICTURES OF HER YOUNG SON, KOBE WHO WAS KILLED OCTOBER 14TH LAST YEAR.

BENNETT.

>> CAN A PERSON THAT COME TALK WILL BE NO SUPPORT GET MY FULL?

PUT GOAL.

MEET UP HIM FOR MONTH PUT ONE UP OF WE WANT HAVE ANOTHER WAY OF THE GHOST BUT WILL SUPPORT THEY SAY ON THE NEW MIKU.

>> BUT HE REMEMBERS HER SON AS A CAR ENTHUSIAST.

SHE SAYS HE OFTEN SPENT HOURS IN THE GARAGE, TAKING CARS APART AND REBUILDING THEM.

WHAT IS THE PART GULF AND TO COOK ME WHOLE.

HE WANT TO CUT DOWN OF USC.

POLICE SAY 21 YEAR-OLD KOBY PEOPLE GO WAS KILLED IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING.

ACCORDING TO POLICE.

IT WAS AROUND MIDNIGHT WHEN KOBE WAS SHOT.

MULTIPLE TIMES NEAR 19TH STREET AND POLINA IN PILSEN.

BUT THE STOCK IN SO I >> NOTICE ON A SECOND IS THAT BUT THE GUN, THE CULLMAN.

KNOW, TOOK A BITE US THAT AND IS THE BE A SIGN OF BOTTLE.

YES, BUT MADE A CEMENT.

>> KOBE NEVER MADE IT BACK HOME AS THE CASE REMAINS OPEN, HIS FAMILY IS LEFT TO COPE WITH THE TRAUMA PROCESS.

CATHERINE BOCANEGRA HAS DEDICATED HER WORK TO UNDERSTAND OVERWHELMINGLY WHAT SURVIVORS WANT ANSWERS.

WHY MY CHILD OR WHY MY HUSBAND LET MY LOVED ONE.

>> WHY DID THAT BULLET HIT MY?

THE PERSON WHO I LOVE.

WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE BEHIND IT?

WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES?

AND THEY WANT ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO FAMILIES WANT ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEY HAVE TO RELY ON THE PROCESS THAT THEY CANNOT CONTROL BOOK.

AND HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO GUN VIOLENCE.

ESTABLISHING SAFETY IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR FAMILIES LOST LOVED ONES OF VIOLENCE.

THAT THE SECOND PART IS DEFINITELY GOING TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL PROCESS OF A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION.

OVER THE YEARS THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HOMICIDE CLEARANCE RATES.

>> HAVE DECLINED IN MOST CASES, CLEARLY A CRIME MEANS POLICE HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE CHARGE.

AT LEAST ONE SUSPECT.

IN 2014, NEARLY 40% OF CASES WERE CLOSED FOR HOMICIDES INVOLVING FIREARMS LAST YEAR.

THAT NUMBER WAS CLOSE TO 20%.

RETIRED CPD CHIEF OF DETECTIVES, EUGENE ROY SAYS SEVERAL FACTORS GO INTO INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING AND HOMICIDE.

ONE OF THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS IS THE FACT THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> A TREE IS ONLY ASSIGNED 7% OF ITS SWORN COMPLIMENT POLICE OFFICERS DETECTIVES.

NOW THAT'S BEING COMPARED TO NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES.

>> WHICH BOTH HAVE 14 TO 15% OF THEIR SWORN OFFICERS ASSIGNED AS DETECTIVES.

ANOTHER CRITICAL FACTOR THAT ROY SAYS AFFECTS THE PACE OF INVESTIGATIONS.

>> IS NOT HAVING ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS.

OFFICERS IN THE BEACH OR GOING FROM CALL TO CALL TO CALL THE COMMUNITY SOMETIMES PLAYS A BIG PART IN SOLVING A CASE.

ROY SAYS PEOPLE WHO WITNESS A HOMICIDE ARE OFTEN RELUCTANT TO TALK TO THE POLICE BECAUSE COOK COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM.

FOR YEARS.

CITY LEADERS HAVE CALLED FOR ONE LOCAL NATIVES SAYS IT WOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR DETECTIVES AND FAMILIES SEEKING JUSTICE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED.

OUR WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> AND NOW THERE IS A GRANT AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THOSE FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT A WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM.

THOSE ARE 2 IMPORTANT STEPS.

THE 3RD STEP IS INCREDIBLY CRITICAL, WHICH IS WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S BEEN NEARLY 5 MONTHS IN SCHOOL.

PEOPLE THAT DIED.

AND DESPITE A $15,000 REWARD OFFERED FOR INFORMATION, THE FAMILY IS STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS.

>> YOU KNOW, OUT IN OTHER AMERICAN PEOPLE.

I MOMENT OUT HOPE IT'LL WITH ACQUITTAL NOT BUS, GETTING IT WOULD THE ALSO FREE AND WILL AND THAT THAT'S NOT GOING LET ME THEM EQUAL AND THE COMMOTION AND THAT GOT THROUGH BROKEN.

HAS EXPERIENCED THE PAST TO OBTAIN JUSTICE IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERY FAMILY.

JUSTICE INVOLVED SYSTEMS CHAINS.

>> AND I HEARD THIS FROM MANY FAMILY MEMBERS IS THAT JUSTICE INVOLVES.

I'M CHANGING THE WAY THAT DETECTIVES INTERACT WITH THE FAMILIES THAT PROSECUTORS INTERACT WITH FAMILIES LONG LIVE KOBE STICKERS WITH AN IMAGE OF A CAR CAN BE SEEN ALONG 19 STREET.

A REMINDER OF THE DAY THAT MEDEA SAYS CHANGED HER FAMILY'S LIFE FOREVER THAT GO POLICE TO ARREST HIM.

LOOK AT THE ON.

THEY WILL COME A LOOK AT THAT LEVEE THEM EQUAL THOSE WHEN YOU.

>> PROGRAM IS GOING TO MINUTE PHONE.

LITTLE SUN.

>> I FROM YOU.

>> AND REGARDING THE PACE AND SUCCESS OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS, FORMER DETECTIVE ROY ALSO MENTIONED IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT WITH THE STATE'S ATTORNEY AND DETECTIVES HAVE A LOCATION TO WORK ON CASES FROM