---
title: O.C.G.A. § 35-3-4.4. Subpoena authority for investigating abuse, neglect, or exploitation of disabled adult or elder person.
collection: code
id: 35-3-4.4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 35-3-4.4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-4.4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-4.4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-4.4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t35-t36-ch1-59-(v27)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=66569db4_0#page=110
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES / GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 35-3-4.4. Subpoena authority for investigating abuse, neglect, or exploitation of disabled adult or elder person.

(a) In any investigation of a violation of Article 8 of Chapter 5 of Title 16 or other criminal violation involving the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult, elder person, or resident, the director, assistant director, or deputy director for investigations shall be authorized to issue a subpoena, with the consent of the Attorney General, to compel the production of books, papers, documents, or other tangible things, including records and documents contained within, or generated by, a computer or any other electronic device, unless such records are wholly owned by the federal government.

(b) Upon the failure of a person without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena, the director, assistant director, or deputy director for investigations, through the prosecuting attorney, may apply to a superior court having jurisdiction for an order compelling compliance. Such person may object to the subpoena on the grounds that it fails to comply with this Code section or upon any constitutional or other legal right or privilege of such person. The court may issue an order modifying or setting aside such subpoena or directing compliance with the original subpoena. Failure to obey a subpoena issued under this Code section may be punished by the court as contempt of court.

## History

Code 1981, § 35-3-4.4, enacted by Ga. L. 2018, p. 602, § 5/HB 635.