What does the term "double jeopardy" protect individuals from?

The term "double jeopardy" specifically protects individuals from being tried twice for the same offense after either a conviction or an acquittal. This principle is enshrined in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and is a fundamental safeguard in the legal system meant to ensure that a person cannot be subjected to the stress and stigma of repeated prosecutions for the same alleged act.

When someone has been acquitted, meaning found not guilty, or convicted of a crime, they cannot be tried again for that same crime based on the same facts. This protection fosters the belief that once a legal resolution is reached, particularly in a criminal case, individuals should not live under the constant threat of being tried again for that same offense, which aligns with fairness in the judicial process.

Other choices focus on related but distinct legal concepts. For instance, trying someone in multiple jurisdictions might involve issues of federalism or jurisdictional authority rather than double jeopardy. Being tried for lesser charges after an acquittal touches on separate legal principles regarding charge progression, while re-arresting someone for a previously dismissed case also differs as it concerns the merits of the case rather than the principle of double jeopardy itself. Thus, the protection specifically relates to avoiding prosecution