Which amendment protects against double jeopardy?

The 5th Amendment protects individuals from being tried twice for the same offense, a principle known as double jeopardy. This constitutional provision is fundamental in ensuring that once a person has been acquitted or convicted of a particular crime, they cannot be prosecuted again for that same crime in the same jurisdiction. This protection is important because it upholds the finality of legal verdicts and prevents individuals from undergoing the stress, expense, and uncertainty of multiple prosecutions for the same act.

In contrast, the other amendments listed address different legal rights: the 4th Amendment deals with protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; the 6th Amendment guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a fair trial; and the 8th Amendment prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment. Each of these amendments serves its unique protective purpose, but it is the 5th Amendment that specifically addresses the issue of double jeopardy.