What does "double jeopardy" protect against?

Double jeopardy is a legal principle that protects an individual from being tried twice for the same crime in the same jurisdiction after they have been acquitted or convicted. This constitutional protection is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which ensures that once a person has faced trial and a verdict has been reached, they cannot be subjected to a second trial on the same charges, regardless of the circumstances.

This means that if a person is found not guilty (acquitted) or guilty (convicted), the government cannot bring the same charges against them again in a subsequent trial. The concept serves to uphold the finality of a verdict and to protect individuals from the stress and burden of repeated legal proceedings for the same offense.