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For Detroit public records in the non-police lane, confirm that the target is a City record outside police custody, write a sufficiently specific description, and submit it through the City’s published electronic or written process. Store the non-police source label with the response so the result is not expanded to records the route did not cover.
Detroit’s published route here is specifically for non-police City records
Detroit’s Law Department distinguishes non-police FOIA requests from police-record access. For the non-police lane, the request must be in writing and describe a public record sufficiently for the City to find it. That scope cue matters: a request about a City contract, department communication or another administrative record belongs in a different workflow from a Detroit Police record.
Treat the source label as part of the evidence. If the research later includes police material, start a separate police-record path rather than assuming the non-police submission searched those files. Keeping the two lanes distinct makes it possible to compare City administrative records with law-enforcement records without blurring their custodians.
Detroit’s non-police request works best when the record can be found from the writing alone
Sufficient description
Identify the public record closely enough for City staff to locate it
Use a document type, department, subject or other distinguishing information tied to the maintained file.
Written request
Preserve the exact submission text
Later clarification should be stored alongside the original so the final response can be matched to the scope actually searched.
Requester information
Keep the identifying and mailing details required by this route with the request file
Those administrative fields belong to submission handling and should not be confused with search criteria for the public record.
Prepare a Detroit non-police FOIA request from the record outward
1
Confirm the target is not a police recordUse the Law Department non-police lane only for City records that belong outside Detroit Police custody.2
Describe the existing record sufficientlyWrite the request so the City can identify what file, communication, report or other material is being sought.3
Choose the electronic route or a written formThe submission mechanism can vary, but the maintained record and written scope should remain the same.4
Archive the City response with the non-police labelThis prevents the result from being summarized as if Detroit Police records were included.Interpret Detroit non-police FOIA artifacts by function
| Artifact | Meaning | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic submission receipt | The non-police request was submitted through the City route | Does not prove responsive records exist |
| Written City response | The City’s handling of the described non-police record request | Does not report on police-custody records |
| Produced document | A City record located within the final request scope | Should retain its department or document provenance |
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