44.493
Issues in Criminal Justice Technology & Security
Body Armor
NIJ launched new effort in 2003 to improve
body armor: "to address
the reliability of body armor used by law enforcement personnel
and to examine the future of bullet-resistant technology and testing."
Project included:
- examination of Zylon-based
bullet-resistant vests (both new and used), including upgrade
kits provided by manufacturers to retrofit Zylon-based bullet-resistant
vests (this
is because some of these vests have degraded under certain environmental
conditions). NIJ also reviewed process by which bullet-resistant
vests are certified to determine if the process needs modifications.
- Office of Justice Programs made
available to the law enforcement community up-to-date information
about bullet-resistant vests, including information from NIJ's
examination, research and testing, manufacturers' statements,
and other relevant information. This information will be provided
on the website of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program
administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance ("BJA").
In addition, state and local law enforcement agency grantees
and law enforcement associations will be contacted as new information
becomes available.
- OJP convened a summit with representatives
of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement; law enforcement
associations; manufacturers of bullet-resistant fabric and equipment;
and standards and testing organizations. Summit participants
reviewed the information available from NIJ's examination, including
the suitability of Zylon-based bullet-resistant vests for law
enforcement use and the effectiveness of NIJ's certification
process. Summit participants considered the future of bullet-resistant
technology and testing technology.
- OJP will work with state and
local law enforcement agencies that have purchased Zylon-based
bullet-resistant vests to ensure they are fully aware of all
information available about the product and, if necessary, will
assist them in their efforts to replace any defective equipment.
Natick Labs has created a prototype
uniform of the future for police, based on its work on the
Army's
Future Force Warrior (FFW) combat gear.
EXERCISE: We're going to divide into groups and survey the
web sites for several alternative weapons and/or protective clothing.
We will evaluate the products in terms of the criteria we've already
established, as well as looking for additiona criteria we should
add to our evaluations.
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