Under Texas law, a person cannot be tried for the same offense more than once due to which principle?

The principle that prevents a person from being tried for the same offense more than once in Texas law is known as double jeopardy. This constitutional protection is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and is incorporated into Texas law. Double jeopardy ensures that an individual cannot face multiple prosecutions or punishments for the same crime, providing a safeguard against the government abusing its prosecutorial power.

This principle not only protects individuals from the stress and stigma of repeated trials for the same offense but also serves to uphold the integrity of the judicial process. Once a verdict has been reached—whether a conviction or an acquittal—double jeopardy bars any further attempts to prosecute the individual for that specific crime.

The other principles mentioned, while important in different legal contexts, do not address the issue of being tried for the same offense. Res judicata pertains to preventing the relitigation of issues or claims already resolved in a final judgment, the statute of limitations sets a deadline for bringing criminal charges, and due process refers to the legal rights and protections afforded to individuals in legal proceedings. While these are fundamental concepts of law, they do not specifically relate to the prohibition against being tried for the same offense more than once.