Legal Question in Criminal Law in District of Columbia

Re: subpoena's

A subpoena(meaning under penalty)is a document which normally issues out of a court and is directed to be served upon a designated person to require either that person to appear(usually as a witness) at some particular place and time(normally a courthouse)or to forward particular designated documents/records which have been described in the subpoena to the person responsible for having it issued.

If for whatever the reason the subpoena is not honored or complied with, sanctions may be imposed upon the noncomplier.