Which safeguard requires magistrate review before imprisonment?

• A. Examination required before commitment
• B. Warrantless arrest is allowed
• C. Informal release program
• D. Pre-trial diversion

Answer: (A)

Judicial oversight before detention is essential to protect due process. The examination required before commitment is the safeguard that ensures a magistrate reviews the facts after arrest and determines whether there is probable cause and whether continued confinement is justified. This step prevents unlawful imprisonment by giving the judiciary a check before someone is held, and it can lead to release or to setting bail if detention remains appropriate. The other options describe processes not tied to magistrate review prior to imprisonment: warrantless arrest may occur in certain circumstances, but it does not itself require magistrate review before detention; informal release programs and pre-trial diversion focus on release mechanisms or diverting cases from detention or prosecution, not on a magistrate’s pre-detention examination.