What legal principle prevents an individual from being tried twice for the same offense?

Double jeopardy is a legal principle that protects individuals from being tried more than once for the same crime. This principle is enshrined in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. 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 for a specific offense, they cannot face another trial for that same offense, providing a fundamental safeguard against the government’s power.

Understanding double jeopardy is crucial for anyone involved in the legal system, including private investigators who may deal with cases that involve the legal proceedings against individuals. It ensures that once a verdict has been reached, the case cannot be re-litigated, thus promoting finality and stability in legal judgments.

The other options, such as indictment, arraignment, and bill of information, refer to different procedures and stages within the criminal justice process rather than the concept of being tried twice for the same offense. Indictment refers to the formal charge or accusation of a serious crime, arraignment is the process where the accused is formally read the charges and enters a plea, and a bill of information is a similar charging document used in lieu of an indictment.