N.J. Stat. Ann. § 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-11
Evidence in obedience to summons; immunity of witnesses
Operative Text
No person shall be excused from attending and testifying or from producing records, correspondence, documents or other evidence in obedience to the subpoena of the Attorney General, director, or hearing examiner on the ground that the testimony or evidence required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture, but no person shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning which he is compelled, after having claimed his privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence. But he may nevertheless be prosecuted or subjected to penalty or forfeiture for any perjury or contempt committed in answering, or failing to answer, or in producing or failing to produce evidence in accordance with the subpoena, and any such testimony given or evidence produced shall be admissible against him in any proceeding concerning such perjury or contempt. The immunity herein provided shall extend only to natural persons so compelled to testify. L.1945, c. 169, p. 593, s. 10. Amended by L.1963, c. 40, s. 6; L.1966, c. 17, s. 3, eff. April 7, 1966.
Under N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-11, individuals subpoenaed by the Attorney General, director, or a hearing examiner in a civil rights or housing-discrimination proceeding cannot refuse to testify or produce documents solely because doing so might incriminate them. In exchange, the law grants those compelled witnesses immunity from prosecution or penalty based on what they are forced to disclose, provided they first assert their privilege against self-incrimination. That immunity does not protect against charges of perjury or contempt arising from the testimony itself, and it applies only to natural persons—not corporations or other entities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who receive a subpoena issued under N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-11 in connection with a discrimination investigation are generally expected to appear and produce the requested records. Compliant operators typically maintain organized documentation—leases, correspondence, rental applications—so that responding to such a subpoena can be done accurately and completely. Because the provision's immunity protections hinge on properly claiming the privilege against self-incrimination before testifying, operators who receive such a subpoena commonly consult legal counsel to understand the procedural steps involved.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-11 is relevant to tenants who are called as witnesses in a housing-discrimination investigation conducted under New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination. The provision means that a tenant witness cannot be prosecuted based solely on compelled testimony, as long as they assert their privilege against self-incrimination before speaking—offering a degree of protection for those who might otherwise fear self-exposure. Tenants who receive a subpoena in such a proceeding may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand how this immunity provision applies to their role as a witness.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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