What is the purpose of a preliminary hearing?

A preliminary hearing is a type of criminal court hearing which is held in the state of Florida. It provides the accused with an opportunity to challenge the evidence that law enforcement and prosecutors have against them. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine whether there is enough evidence to file charges and proceed with further criminal proceedings. The judge will review the evidence presented by the prosecution and decide if there is probable cause to proceed. At the preliminary hearing, the prosecution must present enough evidence to convince the judge of the accused’s guilt. This could include witness testimony, physical evidence, and/or other material. Based off of this evidence, the judge will decide if a criminal trial should be held. If the judge finds that there is sufficient evidence to move forward with the criminal trial, the defendant will be arraigned in court. If the judge does not find enough evidence, the charges against the defendant will be dropped and the case will be dismissed. The goal of a preliminary hearing is to provide both the prosecution and the defense with the necessary evidence to ensure that the accused gets a fair trial. It also allows the accused to challenge the evidence against them. Additionally, it gives both parties the opportunity to negotiate a plea bargain or dismiss the case before it is brought to trial.

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What is the purpose of a preliminary hearing?

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