FOCL Practice Test

If John is found not guilty of murder, what prevents him from being tried again for that crime?

1. Insufficient evidence

2. Double jeopardy

3. Statute of limitations

4. New evidence rule

The correct answer is: Double jeopardy

The principle that prevents John from being tried again for the same crime after being found not guilty is known as double jeopardy. This legal concept ensures that an individual cannot be prosecuted more than once for the same offense following an acquittal or conviction. The purpose of double jeopardy is to protect individuals from the stress and resource depletion of being subjected to multiple trials for the same alleged crime, thereby upholding the fairness of the legal system. In this context, if John was acquitted of murder, the double jeopardy clause ensures he cannot face prosecution for that murder again, regardless of any circumstances that may arise later. This protection is enshrined in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and similar legal frameworks in many legal systems worldwide, reinforcing the principle of finality in legal proceedings.