This article describes the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) newly revised Selection and Application Guide to Police Body Armor.
Body armor has saved countless police officer's lives over the past 20 years since its development. While body armor seems a common enough part of the police arsenal of equipment, many agencies have questions about how to select body armor and use it most effectively. In response, NIJ created and published the first version of the Selection and Application Guide to Police Body Armor in 1989. While there have been brief updates and revisions to this guide in the years since 1989, the latest version represents the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on the selection and use of body armor in nearly 10 years. The guide is a companion publication to NIJ's Body Armor Consumer Product List. Contact information is presented.