FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE??????????? ??????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? BJA
Wednesday, January 23, 2002????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ?202/307‑0703
?????????????? JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HELPS POLICE DEPARTMENTS
BUY BULLETPROOF VESTS
WASHINGTON, D.C.‑‑ The Justice Department?s Office of
Justice Programs (OJP) is making $25 million available to help law enforcement
agencies across the nation obtain bulletproof vests.? On January 14, OJP?s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) opened
the application process for the FY 2002 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program,
which provides for up to half the cost of bulletproof vests.? The application period closes April 13,
2002.?
"Our nation?s police officers put their lives on the line for our
citizens every day," said Assistant Attorney General Deborah J.
Daniels.? "I am proud of our role
in advancing the safety of these dedicated individuals."
Through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, BJA provides for up
to half the cost
of bulletproof
vests.? Last year, BJA assisted over
4,400 law enforcement agencies across the nation. Funding for over 300,000
bulletproof vests has been provided to state, county, and tribal local law
enforcement agencies in the program's first three years.? Each jurisdiction may purchase one vest per
officer per year, and all vests must meet or exceed standards developed by
OJP?s National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
Beginning in FY 2001, jurisdictions were able to apply for funding to
purchase stab‑resistant vest models that are approved by NIJ.? NIJ issued a standard for stab-resistant
body armor in September 2000.
The Bulletproof Vest Program is run via the Internet, enabling law
enforcement agencies or jurisdiction officials to gain access to information
from any computer at any time. Eligible personnel can browse the Website and
get information on vest models, as well as discuss preferred types of vests
with other agencies.
BJA established a toll‑free number to assist agencies with their
applications.? The number is
877/758-3787.? Also, rural jurisdictions
without Internet access are linked through to the National Center for Rural Law
Enforcement (NCRLE), which helps jurisdictions find Internet access or process
their applications by phone.
The Bulletproof Vest Program was re-authorized by the Bulletproof Vest
Grant Partnership Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-517). The law reauthorized the program
for three more years, and provided priority funding for jurisdictions with
populations under 100,000.
?? The following Websites have information
about the program and the application:
Bulletproof Vests: http://vests.ojp.gov/.
BJA: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA.
OJP: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/.
For additional
information, contact Sheila Jerusalem or Heather Schoell at 202/307‑0703.
# # #
BJA02065