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double jeopardy definition - legal

n

The fact or risk of being prosecuted more than once for the same (or substantially the same) offense. Double jeopardy is prohibited by the United States Constitution; however, separate proceedings under state and federal law for offenses arising out of the same incident do not constitute double jeopardy (for example, a state trial for murder and a federal trial for deprivation of civil liberties involving the same killing).

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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