What does the term 'double jeopardy' refer to?

The term 'double jeopardy' refers to a legal principle that protects individuals from being tried again for the same offense after a verdict has been reached in a court of law. Specifically, once a person has been acquitted (found not guilty) or convicted (found guilty) of a particular crime, they cannot be retried for that same crime based on the same set of facts. This principle is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and serves as a safeguard against the government’s power to subject individuals to multiple prosecutions, which could lead to harassment and unfair punishment.

The other options refer to different legal concepts that do not directly relate to the protections afforded by double jeopardy. For instance, the right to appeal a conviction involves a different legal process where a defendant seeks to challenge a conviction in a higher court. The process of receiving a sentence pertains to the phase after a conviction where a penalty is determined, while the ability to change one's plea involves the defendant's rights during the initial trial process, but does not pertain to protections against being tried multiple times for the same crime. Therefore, the correct answer accurately defines the scope and meaning of double jeopardy within the context of criminal law.