Which principle seeks to ensure that individuals cannot be imprisoned without a fair trial?

The principle that ensures individuals cannot be imprisoned without a fair trial is due process of law. This principle is embedded in the legal systems of many jurisdictions, particularly in the United States, through the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. Due process guarantees that legal proceedings will be fair and that individuals will receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before any governmental deprivation of life, liberty, or property can occur.

Due process encompasses a range of rights and principles that protect individuals in the context of criminal proceedings, including the right to a fair trial, the right to counsel, and the right to an impartial jury. It emphasizes the necessity of following established legal procedures and provides a framework to challenge unlawful detentions and ensure justice.

The presumption of innocence, while also a fundamental legal principle, specifically pertains to the idea that an accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty. This principle is closely related to due process but does not solely encompass the broader spectrum of rights and judicial safeguards that due process ensures. Other options, such as the right to bear arms and protection against self-incrimination, deal with different aspects of legal rights and do not directly address the concept of being imprisoned without fair trial procedures.