Answer :
With preliminary hearings, the appropriate standard of proof associated with the hearing is A. probable cause.
- In preliminary hearings, the standard of proof required is probable cause. This is a lower threshold than the standards used in actual trials, such as preponderance of evidence or beyond a reasonable doubt. Probable cause is generally defined as a reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed, which is sufficient to move forward with charging the defendant.
- For example, in the criminal justice system, a judge uses the probable cause standard to decide whether there is enough evidence to hold the defendant for trial. This is different from the preponderance of evidence standard often used in civil cases, where the evidence must show that it is more likely than not that the plaintiff's claims are true.
