icon icon Your Trusted and non-commercial source for information on how to select, wear, and care for your body armor.
Get the latest replacement protocols and tips on cleaning, storing, and inspecting your body armor. Watch instructional videos on types of armor, selection and fit issues for women and men and download easy reference fit assessment checklists. More >>


Learn about the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Voluntary Compliance Testing Program, how it works and the NIJ Standards in use today. You can also look up body armor and police gear on our compliant product lists. This information can be used to assist with body armor purchasing decisions. More >>
Visit The BVP program website for details on grants available from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to reimburse states, counties, federally recognized tribes, cities, and local jurisdictions up to 50% of the cost of body armor vests. Applications for BVP usually open in April. More >>

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About Us

Welcome to PoliceArmor.org, the site that helps criminal justice practitioners access unbiased information on body armor selection, purchase, care and maintenance. This site is a service of the NIJ Compliance Testing Program (NIJ CTP), operated by a grantee (RTI International) as part of the Criminal Justice Testing & Evaluation Consortium (CJTEC). To learn more about this site, click here.


News & Features

Comment on Draft NIJ Standards No draft standards available for public comment at this time.

Revised Body Armor Draft Standard coming soon.

As leaders of law enforcement, we oversee the safety of all who work under our command. We encourage you to place officer safety at the forefront of your leadership and use the information on this web site as a primer for your agency's selection, care and use of body armor. Read more

NIJ is accepting orders for free copies (limit 10 per order/agency) of our body armor poster that provides critical information concerning the care of officer body armor, including where to check for NIJ compliance certification and essential pointers for the proper upkeep of body armor. Click here for the order form or to download a copy of the poster.

NIJ Body Armor Poster






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More than 1 million vests purchased by agencies; learn more about The Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program