Functions of the Viscount's department

​Court enforcement functions

The functions of the Enforcement team are to:

• collect and enforce fines
• receipt and payment of bail moneys
• arrest persons and present them for non-appearance in court
• carry out service of legal process
• collect (and pay) costs and compensation
• execute and enforce civil judgments
• carry out evicti​ons
• enforce maintenance orders, collect and pay alimony
• enforce court orders in relation to drug trafficking and the proceeds of crime
• seize, manage and realise property and assets being proceeds of crime or subject to other court orders 

Assize jury functions

In preparation for an Assize trial the Court Services team and Enforcement team functions are to:

• prepare the Tableau Général (jury list), and maintain and operate the computerised jury selection system
• serve jury and witness summonses
• ensure that the Court has a sufficient number of potential jurors from which to select a jury at the beginning of an Assize trial
• consider and determine applications for exemptions from jury service
• grant financial assistance to jury members suffering financial hardship as a result of assize jury service
• act as jury custodian during the assize trial

Coroner's functions

The Coroner's functions (assisted as necessary by the Court Services team, the States of Jersey Police and other agencies) are to:

• investigate sudden, unexpected or unnatural deaths or deaths which must be formally reported to the Viscount
• authorise post-mortem examinations
• conduct Inquests
• deal with doctors seeking authorisation for registration of medical certificates of fact and cause of death
• consider and determine applications for a body to be removed from or to the Island
• consider and determine applications for exhumation and reinterment
• deal with any other ancillary matters relating to the management of death

Insolvency functions

The functions of the Insolvency team are to:

• administer en d​ésastres proceedings
• grant Debt Remission Orders  
• assist the Jurats with Remise de Biens applications
• review court applications for aid in bankruptcy and insolvency matters
• carry out requests for bankruptcy checks
• assist the Courts with any other matters in relation to bankruptcy and insolvency in Jersey

Regulatory functions

The functions of the Regulatory team are to:

• act as regulator and supervisor of delegates

Other functions

The list below details the other functions of the Viscount's Department:

• act as delegate for people with limited capacity by assisting with their finances
• act as Autorisé (Returning Officer) at public elections
• administer oaths
• administer the Collective Investment Funds Compensation Scheme
• attend sittings of the Courts
• attend sittings of the States
• bear the Royal Mace of the Bailiff of Jersey
• conduct Vues de Vicomte
• convene sittings of the Royal Court and other bodies
• grant exemptions from payment of judicial fees
• act as Tuteur of last resort
• act as trustee for criminal injuries compensation awards to minors
• promote law reform in the context of the Department's service areas
• perform various ceremonial duties
• take evidence for Jersey and foreign courts and authorities
• act as usher for children giving video-linked evidence