A preliminary hearing is held to:

• A. Determine probable cause for charging
• B. Determine innocence or guilt
• C. Set bail
• D. Allow the defendant to enter a plea

Answer: (D)

The main purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe the defendant committed the crime and should proceed to trial. At this stage, the judge weighs evidence presented by the prosecution to decide if there’s enough basis to move the case forward. It is not a trial, so guilt or innocence isn’t resolved here, and a plea isn’t entered at this hearing. While bail decisions can be addressed around this stage in some jurisdictions, and arraignment (where a defendant typically enters a plea) comes later, the defining function of a preliminary hearing is to establish probable cause to charge and continue with the case.