jeopardy

Jeopardy is a danger of harm; the risk of loss. In legal contexts, jeopardy often refers to the risk of criminal liability that a defendant faces at trial. Jeopardy attaches at the moment a prosecution commences - in a jury trial when the jury is empaneled and in a bench trial when the first witness is sworn.

See also double jeopardy.

[Last reviewed in August of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Wex

• criminal law
• criminal procedure
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• criminal law and procedure