What is "double jeopardy"?

The concept of "double jeopardy" specifically refers to the legal principle that protects individuals from being tried twice for the same crime. This is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states that no person shall "be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb." This means that once a person has been acquitted or convicted of a crime, they cannot be prosecuted again for that same offense, ensuring the finality of criminal proceedings and safeguarding against the government’s abuse of power.

The other concepts listed do not accurately represent what double jeopardy entails. For example, the idea of allowing multiple punishments for the same crime misrepresents the protective nature of double jeopardy, which seeks to prevent a person from facing different trials and penalties for the same act. The provision for trials to be appealed does not fall under double jeopardy, as appeals are part of the legal process that allow for reviewing a verdict. Lastly, the right for a suspect to change their plea is unrelated to double jeopardy, as changing a plea does not involve prosecution for the same crime but rather pertains to the defendant's legal strategy within a single trial.