Q: Do I need a lawyer to get my discovery packet in the state of Michigan?
A:
Yes. But you should know there is no such thing as a "discovery packet". That is a phrase jailhouse lawyers use all the time, and get frustrated when told there is no such thing. "Discovery" is nothing more than facts or evidence the prosecution relies on for trial. In many cases, there is no direct evidence; rather, the case turns on circumstantial evidence, which is really not discoverable other than what the police write in the report what a particular witness or victim said at the time.
In most cases, you will get a copy of the police report. If it's drug-related, there may also be a lab report identifying the drugs. In cases involving DNA or fingerprints, you may also see reports related to that. And if there is any video or pictures, you should be able to view those. That's the components of a "discovery packet", but any particular case may or may not have all of that; the prosecutor does not need all of that to obtain a conviction in most cases.
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