What is the primary purpose of a preliminary hearing?

The primary purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine if there is probable cause for the charges against the defendant. During this stage, a judge evaluates whether enough evidence exists to justify proceeding with a criminal case. The preliminary hearing helps protect individuals from unwarranted legal action by ensuring that there is enough factual basis for the charges to proceed in court.

In this context, the judge reviews the evidence presented, which typically involves witness testimony and other relevant materials. If the judge finds probable cause, the case moves forward to trial. If not, the charges may be dismissed, reflecting the importance of this stage in safeguarding the rights of the accused. This process is crucial as it also helps to streamline the judicial process by filtering out weak cases before they reach trial.

Other potential options, such as finalizing charges, allocating funds, or establishing sentencing guidelines, are not the focus of a preliminary hearing and serve their own distinct purposes in the legal process.