NIJ Selection and Application Guide

"This guide has two principal purposes. The first is to inform law enforcement, corrections and other public safety agencies in the development of sound policies and procedures concerning body armor from its procurement to its disposal. The second is to provide officers a better understanding of the importance of wearing body armor, wearing it correctly and caring for it properly ... The heart of the guide - how to proceed to select and purchase body armor - begins with chapter 4 and includes chapters explaining how to assess the level of protection needed, things to think about when selecting armor and ways to keep it in proper working order" (p. 1). Ten chapters are contained in this guide: reasons to wear body armor; what body armor is; NIJ Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor Standards and Testing Program; selection considerations; measurement, fit, and coverage; purchasing and procurement considerations; development and procurement specifications; inspection and care; training and administration; and what to do when an officer wearing body armor is shot. Appendixes include: armor sizing templates; and example procurement specifications.