Bar Exam Practice 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The principle of no double jeopardy is enshrined in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects individuals from being tried more than once for the same offense after a verdict has been reached. This protection applies whether the individual is acquitted or convicted, ensuring finality in legal proceedings.

Choosing the option stating that a person cannot be tried for a crime if acquitted directly reflects this principle. Once an individual is acquitted—meaning they have been found not guilty of the crime—they cannot face trial for that same charge again, thus safeguarding against the state’s potential overreach and against the anxiety and financial burdens that accompany retrials.

The other choices do not align with the core principle of double jeopardy. One implies that new evidence can justify multiple trials, which contradicts the intent of preventing repetitive prosecutions. Another suggests an automatic new trial after a significant time period without regard to prior judgments, undermining the concept of finality that double jeopardy safeguards. Lastly, the option about civil recovery pertains to the separate legal standards of civil versus criminal cases and does not infringe upon the protections against double jeopardy.