The problem is that when the cruise lines say nothing you then get hordes of cruise industry bashers (who are notorious for distorting the truth in unbelievable ways) who come out every time and insist it was a crime, usually committed by a crew member.
For those of you who don't know you would be amazed at the tactics of a few but very vocal community of people who are out to destroy the cruise industry simply because they have found it can be profitable to do so. They put up web sites advertising lawyers who will sue the cruise lines on your behalf.
The cruise lines used to stay silent in all of these cases, but the innuendo making them into the villains got so unbelievably out of hand they were actually forced to start making comments in their own defense - which are also the truth.
Yes, it is a shame if it taints a jury pool, but that is also PRECISELY what the cruise bashers have been trying to do for years - paint the cruise industry as inherently bad and dangerous to society just so lawyers could eventually win huge judgments in cases against cruise lines.
And it did not matter if it is was a passenger on passenger crime, these detractors would always go after the deep pockets, trying to sue the cruise lines for "contributory negligence."
If someone referred to you as a villain often enough, you would also start defending yourself.