What does double jeopardy prohibit?

Double jeopardy is a legal principle that prohibits prosecuting a person twice for the same offense after they have already been acquitted or convicted. This protection is enshrined in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and is designed to prevent the government from subjecting individuals to multiple trials for the same crime, which could lead to harassment or undue hardship.

When a person is acquitted, they are considered not guilty, and a conviction also bars further prosecution for the same act or crime. This principle bolsters the finality of judgments, ensuring that individuals can move on with their lives without the fear of being retried for the same alleged wrongdoing.

The other options reflect different legal concepts but do not directly pertain to the essence of double jeopardy. For example, prosecuting an individual for a different crime or reopening a closed case involves distinct circumstances that do not violate the double jeopardy clause. Convicting someone without a trial addresses due process rights rather than the specific protections against being tried for the same offense more than once.