U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Taking the Stab Out of Stabbings
NCJ Number
              211819

Date Published

2000
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              After describing testing in the United Kingdom that led to the development of a standard for stab-resistant body armor, this article describes such testing efforts in the United States.
Abstract
              The development of a standard for stab-resistant body armor in the United Kingdom was performed by the Police Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) of the Home Office. PSDB researchers developed an "instrumented" knife blade designed to measure the thrust and energy of a stab. The first series of tests instructed 500 young male recruits to perform stabbing motions with the "instrumented knife," varying stabbing directions and techniques. Based on information from the instrumented blade, researchers determined the level of energy a human being was capable of delivering with a knife. The testing determined that for the highest level of protection, a vest should be able to withstand 43 joules of energy (1 joule is approximately 1 foot-pound of energy), allowing no more than approximately 1/4-inch penetration. In 1999, PSDB issued a stab-resistant standard for vests worn by law enforcement officers. Leveraging the research conducted by the PSDB, the U.S. Justice Department's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) adopted the segments that represented the stabbing threat to American law enforcement and corrections officers. The NIJ standard for stab-resistant vests will be published in 2000 under the title "NIJ Standard-0115.00: Stab Resistance of Personal Body Armor." The standard places vests into two categories according to the kind of threat it is designed to stop. Within each category of threat are three levels of protection; the first level stops 23 joules of energy; the second, 33 joules of energy; and the third, 43 joules of energy.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        96-MU-MU-K011


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Test/Measurement
                                Guideline
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2000
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Foreign police
        Knives
        NIJ Grant-related Documents
        Police equipment
        Stabbings



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Examining Officer Support for and Perceived Effects of Police Consolidation
                  Investigation of Falsified Documents via Direct Analyte-Probed Nanoextraction Coupled to Nanospray Mass Spectrometry, Fluorescence Microscopy, and Raman Spectroscopy
                  Nanomanipulation-Coupled to Nanospray Mass Spectrometry Applied to Document and Ink Analysis
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov