Helping To Pay for Body Armor

• NCJ Number: 211842
• Author(s): National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
• Date Published: January 2000
• Length: 1 page
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored

Annotation

Under the Federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Grant Act of 1998, law enforcement agencies can receive Federal funding to cover up to half the cost of their body-armor purchases.

Abstract

The program authorized under the BVP pays up to 50 percent of the cost of body armor approved by the U.S. Justice Department's National Institute of Justice (NIJ); however, given the projected number of eligible jurisdictions and the limited funds available, the BVP may not have sufficient funds to provide 50 percent for all applications. Law enforcement personnel and agencies must apply for a BVP grant through the government of their jurisdiction. Parties eligible to receive BVP funding are "law enforcement officers," defined as any officer, agent, or employee of a State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, or investigation of any violation of criminal law, or authorized by law to supervise sentenced criminal offenders. Those who meet this definition can be full-time, part-time, or auxiliary personnel, whether paid or volunteer.