What law guarantees a prisoner the right to seek a court order to determine the lawfulness of their detention?

Habeas Corpus is a fundamental legal principle that ensures a prisoner has the right to challenge their detention before a court. This law serves as a protection against unlawful imprisonment, allowing individuals to argue that their confinement violates legal standards or due process. The term "habeas corpus" translates to "you shall have the body," emphasizing the need for the state to justify the reasons for keeping someone in custody.

This legal remedy is crucial because it prevents arbitrary detention, ensuring that individuals are not held without proper legal justification. The significance of Habeas Corpus can be traced back to English common law and has been a vital aspect of democratic legal systems, reflecting the principle that no one should be imprisoned without fair trial rights.

Other options, while related to legal concepts, do not specifically address the right to seek relief from detention in the same manner. Due Process pertains to the legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person, but it is not solely about challenging detention. The Legal Rights Act and the Prison Reform Act pertain to broader rights within the legal system and conditions of imprisonment rather than the specific procedure of contesting one’s detention.