EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - BODY ARMOR FIELD TEST AND EVALUATION - FINAL REPORT, V 1 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• NCJ Number: 46836
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 63 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-025-73
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Aerospace Corporation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SEE ALSO V 2 - TEST AND EVALUATION - NCJ-46837 AND V 3 - APPENDICES - NCJ-46835

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF FIELD TEST AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A STUDY OF SOFT BODY ARMOR FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

DURING 1976, 5,000 COMMERCIAL BODY ARMOR GARMENTS AND GARMENTS DESIGNED OF IDENTICAL BALLISTIC MATERIAL (KEVLAR 29) FOR THE LEAA WERE ISSUED TO PATROL OFFICERS IN 15 CITIES. FIELD TEST DATA WERE ANALYZED AND EVALUATED, AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONS OF THE LEAA ARMOR WERE IMPLEMENTED AND TESTED. STUDIES TO CHARACTERIZE THE MECHANICAL AND BALLISTIC PROPERTIES OF KEVLAR 29 WERE CARRIED OUT. GUIDELINES FOR THE SPECIFICATION AND PROCUREMENT OF SOFT BODY ARMOR WERE DEVELOPED. THE STUDY FOUND THAT ARMOR CONTAINING 7 TO 12 PLIES OF PROTECTIVE MATERIAL IS OPTIMUM IN TERMS OF PREVENTING FATALITIES OR INJURIES. CHANGES IN ATTITUDES AMONG OFFICERS WEARING ARMOR WERE NEGLIGIBLE. NONE OF THE DESIGNS TESTED INTERFERED WITH THE OFFICERS' ACTIVITIES. NONE OF THE OFFICERS WHO WERE SHOT OR STABBED WHILE WEARING AN ARMOR GARMENT SUSTAINED INTERNAL INJURIES. THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY REPORTS THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM EACH ASPECT OF THE STUDY. FOR THE COMPLETE REPORT, SEE VOLUMES 2 AND 3, NCJ-46837 AND NCJ-46835. (LKM)