What does double jeopardy protect against?

Double jeopardy is a constitutional protection found in the Fifth Amendment that safeguards individuals from being tried multiple times for the same offense after an acquittal or conviction. This principle ensures fairness in the legal system by preventing the government from subjecting a person to the emotional and financial strain of repeated trials for the same alleged conduct. It establishes a finality to the verdicts rendered in criminal proceedings, whether they conclude with an acquittal or a conviction, thereby upholding the integrity of the judicial process and protecting individuals from relentless prosecution.

The other options address different legal protections or rights, but they do not pertain to the concept of double jeopardy. For instance, the protection against being convicted without a trial pertains to the right to due process, while the right to avoid being charged without sufficient evidence relates to the principle of probable cause required for charges to be brought. The right against self-incrimination is a separate protection that grants individuals the choice not to testify against themselves in criminal matters.