Double Jeopardy Clause

The Double Jeopardy Clause is a legal principle that protects individuals from being tried or punished twice for the same crime. It is part of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This means once a person has been acquitted or convicted of a specific offense, the government cannot re-prosecute them for the same offense in the same jurisdiction. The rule aims to prevent government abuse and ensure fairness, allowing individuals to rely on the finality of legal judgments and avoiding the emotional, financial, and social toll of multiple prosecutions for the same conduct.