Searchable FOIA archive
Every request in one place, searchable and filterable by outcome — granted in full, granted in part, denied, or pending — and paged so nothing gets buried.
Site under construction
We're building the public record one request at a time.
WickmanWatch is a public-accountability archive documenting Freedom of Information Act requests, responses, denials, appeals, fees, and transparency issues involving the Delta County Prosecutor's Office in Escanaba, Michigan. The full site is being assembled right now — this page is where you can watch it come together.
What this is
A searchable record of what was asked — and what came back.
Every entry on WickmanWatch starts with a written request. Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, the public can ask a government office for its records, and the office has to answer: with documents, with a denial, or with a bill. Those answers are public too.
This project collects them in one place. Each request is logged with the date it was sent, the office's response, any fees quoted, and any appeal. Where documents were released, redacted copies are published alongside the request so a reader can see the paper trail for themselves — not just our summary of it.
We don't invent facts. Dates, dollar figures, and outcomes come from the records. Where the record is silent, the site says so. Where a claim can't be supported, it doesn't get made. And wherever a request could identify a private person, their information is redacted.
The record so far
Already a substantial archive
The site is still under construction, but the underlying record is real and growing. Here's what's already been documented.
26FOIA requests logged
7Case watches
27Appeals filed
$177kIn fees quoted
What you'll find
Features built into the full site
Everything below is part of the finished WickmanWatch experience. The pieces are being wired together now.
Source documents, published
Redacted copies of the actual responses are attached to each request, so readers can check the original paperwork instead of taking our word for it.
Interactive graphics
When a response produces documents worth digging into, the data is turned into charts and figures you can explore — not just a wall of text.
Case watches
Narrative, long-form tracking of individual prosecutions — the people, the charges, the filings, and what the public record actually shows about each one.
Transparency index
A scored, weighted assessment of how the office handles public records — with a published methodology, a full breakdown, and a history of every score change.
The Wickman Record
A running pattern analysis that scans the whole archive for recurring behavior — the moves that show up again and again across different requests.
Change log
A dated timeline of every update, so you can see exactly what was added and when — nothing quietly edited after the fact.
Direct contact
A built-in contact form so readers can send tips, corrections, or records of their own straight to the project.
Light & dark themes
Read it your way. The site remembers your choice and switches cleanly between a bright daytime view and a dark investigative one.
Where things stand
What's done, and what's left
An honest snapshot of the build. We'd rather show the work in progress than pretend it's finished.
Phase 01
Records & archive
The FOIA requests, responses, and source documents are collected, redacted, and organized.
Phase 02
Case watches & analysis
Long-form case tracking and the pattern analysis are written and cross-checked against the record.
Phase 03
Public launch
Final review, accessibility checks, and the full site going live at wickmanwatch.com.
Watch it come together
Updates, new records, and launch news go out on the WickmanWatch Facebook page first. Follow along while the site is being built.