Double Jeopardy Law

The Double Jeopardy Law is a legal principle that prevents a person from being tried or punished more than once for the same crime. Once someone has been acquitted (found not guilty) or convicted (found guilty) of a particular offense, they cannot be prosecuted again for the same act in the same jurisdiction. This protects individuals from facing endless legal proceedings and ensures finality in criminal cases. However, double jeopardy generally applies within the same jurisdiction and for the exact offense; different charges based on the same act may sometimes be pursued if they involve different elements or legal categories.