Analytical study of the linear stability of one-dimensional double layers in nonmagnetized plasmas based on the solution of the Vlasov–Poisson system is presented. Electromagnetic effects are not included. A self-consistent equilibrium electrostatic potential Φ0(z) that monotonically increases from a low level at z = − ∞ to a high level at z = + ∞ is assumed. We model this potential as a piecewise continuous function of z and we assume that Φ0(z) has constant values for − ∞ z ≤ 0 and L ≤ z < ∞, L being the thickness of the double layer. The BGK states for the Vlasov–Poisson system provide an explicit expression for the velocity distribution of the reflected electrons required for the particular double layer configuration. The stability of the double layers is studied via the linearized Vlasov and Poisson equations using the WKB approximation.