What is the primary purpose of a preliminary hearing?

The primary purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine if there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a crime was committed, thereby establishing probable cause. At this stage, the evidence presented is not meant to establish the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt but rather to assess whether there is enough basis for the case to proceed to trial. This hearing helps ensure that individuals are not subjected to the full rigors of a trial without adequate evidence supporting the charges against them. It acts as a safeguard in the judicial process, filtering out weak cases before they advance further in the legal system.

While the other options discuss important concepts within the legal process, they do not align with the specific focus of a preliminary hearing. For instance, passing sentence occurs at a later stage once a verdict has been reached, determining guilt is a function of the trial itself, and plea deals are negotiated before or during trial proceedings, rather than at the preliminary hearing stage.