At which stage is a defendant entitled to counsel?

A defendant is entitled to counsel at preliminary hearings to determine probable cause to prosecute because this stage of the criminal process affects the defendant's rights and interests significantly. Preliminary hearings are crucial as they assess whether there is enough evidence to charge the defendant formally and proceed with prosecution. The presence of counsel at this stage ensures that the defendant's rights are protected and that they have the opportunity to challenge the evidence preemptively.

In contrast, at the stages of blood sampling, photo identifications, and taking handwriting samples, the legal standard for the right to counsel does not apply in the same way. These procedures are typically considered investigative and not part of the formal prosecution process where a defendant’s liberty is at stake, and thus they do not trigger the same entitlement to counsel. The law generally recognizes that the right to counsel is focused on stages where the defendant faces potential incarceration or significant legal jeopardy, which is why the preliminary hearing is where this right is firmly established.