Selecting Body Armor

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Agencies that require their armor to comply with NIJ standards before it is purchased should select models based on the 2005 interim requirements (doc, 4 pages) because certain models previously found to be compliant with earlier requirements of new body armor may not adequately maintain ballistic performance during their service life.

Several resources can help agencies and officers select the armor that best meets their needs:

• NLECTC Body Armor Testing Program Database. The site provides a comprehensive listing of all models that have been tested by NIJ's National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) and been found to comply with the NIJ 2005 interim requirements.
• Selection and Application Guide to Personal Body Armor (NIJ Guide, November 2001, NCJ 189633). This guide provides information to help determine what level of protection is consistent with the threats to which individual officers are exposed. It also discusses armor selection from the variety of styles available, and the proper care of armor in service.
  See also, Surviving a Shooting: Your Guide to Personal Body Armor, January 2000.
• The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, provides financial assistance to qualifying State and local law enforcement agencies to purchase armor.