What Is Double Jeopardy?
– KE, Texas
Answer:
In the recent Casey Anthony trial there was some discussion of double jeopardy. This means that once a person has been found not guilty they cannot be prosecuted again for the same crime.
If tomorrow, evidence were to appear showing that Casey Anthony had killed her child, she would not go back to jail. Jeopardy attaches once a jury has been selected and sworn in. That means if a judge dismisses the case after that point, the case is over.
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