Which amendment guarantees the right to protections against double jeopardy?

The amendment that guarantees the right to protections against double jeopardy is the Fifth Amendment. This constitutional provision is crucial as it protects individuals from being tried twice for the same offense after they have been acquitted or convicted. This principle is fundamental to the legal system, ensuring that once a person has undergone a trial and received a verdict, they cannot be subjected to the emotional and financial toll of a second prosecution for the same crime, barring certain limited exceptions. The Fifth Amendment thus upholds the legal concept of finality in criminal proceedings and is a cornerstone of the rights afforded to defendants in the United States.

In contrast, the other amendments listed do not pertain to double jeopardy. The Fourth Amendment deals with unreasonable searches and seizures, the Seventh Amendment pertains to the right to a jury trial in civil cases, and the Eighth Amendment addresses protections against excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment. Each of these amendments serves its distinct purpose within the framework of legal protections, but only the Fifth Amendment specifically addresses the issue of double jeopardy.