Final answer:
Double jeopardy is the legal protection against being tried twice for the same crime, which is guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment. It does not prevent separate criminal and civil trials or trials at different levels of government. Notable cases like O.J. Simpson's illustrate the distinction between criminal acquittal and civil liability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Double Jeopardy
Double jeopardy is a legal concept that refers to the protection against being tried twice for the same crime. This constitutional safeguard is found in the Fifth Amendment and it means that once a person is found not guilty in a criminal trial, they cannot be prosecuted again for the same offense, regardless of new evidence that may emerge. However, double jeopardy does not apply to separate branches of law; a person may face both criminal and civil trials for the same act without this protection being violated.
For example, in the case of O.J. Simpson, he was acquitted in the criminal court, but later faced a civil trial for the same act. While he was found not guilty in the criminal trial, the civil trial had a lower standard of proof and resulted in him being found liable for damages. This situation is permissible because the trials occurred in different branches of law and at different levels of government.
The double jeopardy rule does not prevent civil cases following criminal trials, nor does it prevent federal and state governments from prosecuting the same act under different jurisdictions. An acquittal at the state level, for example, does not bar a federal court from trying a person for the same act if it violates federal law.