Subpoena

The Open Government, Information and Privacy Unit (OGIP Unit), Legal, is the authorised unit responsible for receiving, recording, processing and disseminating valid subpoenas issued to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).

You can view the department’s policy in full - Subpoena, summons, statutory notice or order requiring production of documents or things (PDF, 470.4 KB)

If you require an accessible version of the documents on this page, please email infoandprivacy@dcj.nsw.gov.au.

What is a Subpoena?

A subpoena is a court order, issued at the request of a party involved in a court proceeding. Subpoenas are issued in both criminal and civil matters by any State or Federal court. Parties to court proceedings issuing a subpoena to DCJ must provide conduct money of $100 and, preferably, provide AT LEAST 10 CLEAR WORKING DAYS notice for compliance with the subpoena. Subpoenas may be served:

Electronic service by email is preferred.

Please describe in the schedule the documents that are sought. If you require records about a person, a date of birth allows DCJ to accurately identify the subject person.

Please contact the OGIP Unit by email, or call (02) 9716 2662, if you have any questions regarding the service of subpoenas to DCJ.

Subpoena for production

When a subpoena for documents is issued, the requested material will be sent directly to the nominated court.

Subpoena for an officer to give evidence

When a subpoena is issued for an employee of DCJ to attend and give evidence, the subpoena must be served directly on the officer concerned. Reasonable expenses, as negotiated with the officer or the officer's manager, must be paid ahead of time.

Additional compliance costs

Please see our policy for full details.