What is the sandbox part?

[Scorcher24]

I would imagine that a detective game is not fully procedurally generated. So how exactly do the, what I assume, linear investigations fit into the sandbox part?

[Zothen]

Theres no linear investigations. So yes, it is an open sandbox.
Side contracts are sometimes randomized into absurdity. (e.g. find person with black hair, shoe size 9 and the first name starts with a T. as only info...)

[Girthquake]

You wait around for a murder to happen. You investigate the murder, and that might bring you to one of many apartments or locations proc genned, then you follow the set of clues until you find the murderer and arrest them. There are four or five different "types" of murders that you can utilize meta knowledge to quickly narrow down investigation paths. In between (or during, if you are that kinda cop) those murders you can spend your money at various places and accept side-jobs (these also have subtypes) to earn more credits and buy some gear to aid in investigations.
I don't know if this answers your question, to be honest I had a hard time trying to think of how they fit together too.

[Scorcher24]

No, that actually does help. Thanks for the information.