What does double jeopardy protect individuals from?

Double jeopardy is a constitutional protection afforded by the Fifth Amendment, which specifically prohibits an individual from being tried for the same crime more than once after either an acquittal or a conviction. This principle is crucial in safeguarding individuals against the government’s power to repeatedly prosecute a person for the same offense, which could lead to harassment and unfair consequences.

This protection ensures that once a verdict has been reached—either guilty or not guilty—the individual cannot be subjected to further legal scrutiny for that specific act unless certain exceptions apply, such as a mistrial. The intent is to provide finality to criminal proceedings and prevent the state from using its resources to subject individuals to continual trials for the same behavior. Thus, the accurate understanding of double jeopardy centers on the protection against multiple prosecutions for the same offense.