New Jersey Statutes Title 2A. Administration of Civil and Criminal Justice 2A § 67-20

Every public officer upon whom the writ shall be duly served, whether the writ be directed to him or not, and every other person to whom the writ shall be directed and upon whom it shall be duly served, shall make a return to the writ as required thereby. The return to the writ may be made without producing in court the person detained or restrained, unless the writ requires such production.