What does the term "double jeopardy" mean?

The term "double jeopardy" specifically refers to the legal principle that prohibits an individual from being tried for the same offense more than once after a verdict has been reached. This protection is enshrined in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which prevents the government from subjecting an individual to multiple prosecutions for the same criminal act.

This principle is essential in ensuring fairness in the legal system by preventing the state from continuously pursuing someone for the same crime, which could lead to harassment and injustice. Double jeopardy applies after a verdict (whether guilty or not guilty) has been rendered, providing a finality to the judicial process for that specific charge.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the definition or implications of double jeopardy. The government's ability to retry a defendant under certain circumstances, the possibility of facing both civil and criminal actions for the same conduct, or a defendant's choice among courts do not capture the essence of the double jeopardy concept as defined in legal terms.