Within some criminal justice systems, a preliminary hearing (evidentiary hearing) is a meeting to determine whether, and to what extent, criminal charges and civil cause of actions will be heard (by the court), what evidence will be admitted, and what else must be done (before the case can proceed). At such a hearing, the defendant is assisted by counsel. In the US (and some other locations), a person may be charged, instead, by a grand jury. If the court decides in the affirmative, a formal indictment will be made; and the trial date will be set. If a defendant feels that evidence against them is "strong", then they may request a plea bargain.
Some important questions, generally addressed in such a hearing, are:
- Did the alleged crime occur within the court's jurisdiction?
- Is there probable cause, to believe that the defendant committed the crime?
See also: