Subpoena power increased for state prosecutor

Increased subpoena power for the state prosecutor’s office and stiffer fines for people who illegally provide alcohol to people under 21 go into effect this week in Maryland.

One of the new laws represents a milestone for the state prosecutor’s office, which will now have similar subpoena authority as a state’s attorney to acquire records and documents for investigations.

State prosecutors have been seeking the subpoena power since not long after the office was established more than 30 years ago. Before, the state prosecutor’s office could only subpoena administrative records for investigations through a grand jury. Now, investigators will be able to do so on their own.