The unit's sole responsibility is the processing of subpoenas and the coordination of officers' appearances in court. The SAU processes over 36,000 subpoenas each year from a number of tribunals. The SAU uses a special telephone system that incorporates an automatic dialing capability for the 20 'most called' telephone numbers, permitting speedy contact with frequently called numbers. When numerous officers are subpoenaed on a single case, the SAU staff doublechecks case documents to ensure that the officers summoned can provide instrumental testimony. Under a stand-by (on call) system, officers do not report to court until it is determined that their particular case will be tried and that their testimony will be needed. The use of a sophisticated automated court notification delivery system enables the unit to mail court summons electronically from the main police headquarters to nine outlying police facilities. The SAU is staffed by one sergeant (supervisor) and six police investigators. Each officer assigned to the unit has had training and experience in the interworking of the criminal courts from which all subpoenas originate. Among the benefits produced by the SAU are the provision of a single contact point for matters pertaining to subpoenas, the capacity to inform officers when they are not needed at court, the capacity capability of scheduling cases at officers' convenience, and a cost-effective use of police resources.