What are the rules of double jeopardy in criminal procedure?

Double jeopardy is an important principle of criminal procedure in Virginia. It is a protection against being prosecuted for the same offense after having been acquitted of that offense. In Virginia, the Constitution and laws of the state protect individuals from double jeopardy. The Constitution does not allow for a person to be prosecuted twice for the same offense when a valid verdict has been rendered and is final. A valid verdict means there is an unanimous decision of a jury, or a guilty plea entered in a criminal case. Under Virginia’s laws, a person cannot be tried and sentenced more than once for the same crime. This means if the evidence supports the charge and the person is acquitted, then they cannot be charged with the same offense again. In other words, a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime in Virginia. Another point to consider is that an individual cannot be punished more than once for the same offense even if they are convicted multiple times. This means if a person is convicted of the same crime twice, they can only be sentenced once. In essence, double jeopardy laws in Virginia prevents a person from facing the same charges more than once and from being punished for the same offense more than once. Without this protection, individuals could be put into situations that are prejudicial and unjust.

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What are the rules of double jeopardy in criminal procedure?

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