In response to concerns from the law enforcement community, on November 17, 2003, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a Department of Justice (DOJ) initiative to address the reliability of body armor used by law enforcement personnel and to examine the future of bullet-resistant technology and testing. As part of this initiative, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) examined Zylon^®-based bullet-resistant vests (both new and used) and reviewed the existing process by which bullet-resistant vests are certified. As a result of NIJ's research and testing activities, on August 24, 2005, NIJ released a third status report to the Attorney General, issued a Body Armor Standard Advisory Notice, and introduced the NIJ 2005 Interim Requirements for Bullet-Resistant Body Armor.

• Executive Summary (Adobe Acrobat File)
• Q&A: Third Status Report to the Attorney General on Body Armor Safety Initiative Testing and Activities
• Fact Sheet: Third Status Report to the Attorney General on Body Armor Safety Initiative Testing and Activities
• Body Armor Standard Advisory Notice #01-2005, SUBJECT: Poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO or Zylon^®)
• NIJ 2005 Interim Requirements for Bullet-Resistant Body Armor