U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Assistance Program Brief Bureau of Justice Assistance

Richard R. Nedelkoff, Director

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA

March 2002

The Bulletproof Vest

Partnership

T he purpose of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Acts of1998 and 2000 (Public Laws 105–181 and 106–517) is to 

protect the lives of law enforcement officers by helping states and

units of local and tribal governments equip their law enforcement 

officers with armor vests. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA),

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), is responsible for administering

the program. 

An applicant may request funds to help purchase one vest per officer

per fiscal year. The chief executive officer (CEO) of each eligible 

jurisdiction coordinates the vest needs of its eligible law enforcement

agencies. Beginning in 2002, federal payments will cover 50 percent

of the total vest costs for smaller jurisdictions with populations of

fewer than 100,000 residents. For larger jurisdictions, the program

provides up to 50 percent of the funding; actual percentages will

vary depending on each year’s appropriation and statutory funding

requirements for smaller jurisdictions.
About BJA

The Bureau of Justice Assistance was established in 1984 as a

component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of

Justice. BJA provides leadership and resources to state, local, and

tribal governments and communities to reduce crime, violence, and

drug abuse and to strengthen the nation’s criminal justice system.

BJA provides this assistance through formula and discretionary

grants, training and technical assistance, publications, and the BJA 

web site.

For Further Information

For more general information about the Bulletproof Vest

Partnership Grant Acts, go to http://vests.ojp.gov and check 

the Frequently Asked Questions section. For technical and 

Internet support, contact the Vest Help Desk (toll-free) at

1–877–75VESTS (1–877–758–3787).

Bureau of Justice Assistance

810 Seventh Street NW.

Washington, DC 20531

202–616–6500

Fax: 202–305–1367

Web site: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA 

For publications and information on 

other BJA-funded programs, contact

Bureau of Justice Assistance Clearinghouse 

P.O. Box 6000 

Rockville, MD 20849–6000

1–800–688–4252

Web site: www.ncjrs.org

Clearinghouse staff are available Monday through Friday,

8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. eastern time. Ask to be placed on the

BJA mailing list. 

U.S. Department of Justice Response Center

1–800–421–6770 or locally at 202–307–1480 

Response Center staff are available Monday through Friday,

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time.

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Eligibility

Eligible jurisdictions include general purpose 

units of local government (such as cities, counties,

parishes, and municipalities), federally recognized

Indian tribes, the 50 states, the District of

Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,

American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana

Islands. Applications must be submitted by the

jurisdiction’s CEO or authorized representative.

How To Participate

The entire application and payment process occurs

over the Internet. Eligible applicants begin the 

process by registering at the program’s dedicated

web site: http://vests.ojp.gov. The program accepts

applications during its annual open period, which

normally runs for 90 days during the months of

January through April of each year.

Applicants can read online about vest models that

meet National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards

for armor vests, and link to vest vendors

and manufacturers. After a jurisdiction’s

CEO has determined the number

and types of vests needed,

he or she completes an online

request for funding. The system

accepts only one application for

funds from eligible jurisdictions

each fiscal year. Once funding

has been approved, jurisdictions

purchase new vests directly from

vest distributors.

After a jurisdiction receives the vests,

jurisdiction and law enforcement agency 

representatives verify receipt and request federal

payments online. Funds are electronically deposited

directly in the jurisdiction’s bank account, established

during the online registration period.
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Special Program Requirements

◆ Beginning in 2002, jurisdictions with fewer than

100,000 residents will receive the full 50 

percent federal funding for approved applications.

Larger jurisdictions will receive up to 50 percent,

based on remaining appropriated funds.

◆ Each applicant must pay at least 50 percent

of the cost of purchased vests. Only federally

recognized tribal governments may use other

federal funds for their portion of the payment.

States, local governments, and territories may

use a variety of funds including asset forfeitures,

general revenues, and personal contributions to

pay their share.

◆ “Law enforcement officer” means any officer,

agent, or employee of a state, unit of local 

government, or federally recognized 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. This definition includes, but is not 

limited to, police officers, sheriff’s deputies,

correctional officers, parole and probation agents,

and pretrial services officers. Paid full-time and

part-time and volunteer personnel are eligible.

◆ “Armor vest” means body armor that has been NCJ 192166

tested and found to comply with applicable NIJ March 2002

ballistic and stab standards. Several hundred vest

makes and models from dozens of manufacturers

currently meet these standards. 

◆ NIJ-approved vests purchased on or after March 1,

1999, are eligible for funding. Once an application

for funding has been submitted and approved by

DOJ, jurisdictions have up to 4 additional years to

purchase their vests and request payment.

Overall Program Success 

The online Internet application process is working very

smoothly, allowing several thousand jurisdictions, of

all sizes and from every state, to receive funding and

make vest purchases in accordance with their needs.

Millions of federal dollars have been paid to 

participating jurisdictions and tens of thousands

of ballistic and stab vests have been purchased to

protect our nation’s law enforcement personnel.

For more information on the Bulletproof Vest

Partnership—including the application process

and vest manufacturers—visit our web site at

http://vests.ojp.gov.

Photos courtesy of the Office of Law Enforcement Technology 

Commercialization (a program of the National Institute of Justice)

and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.