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 tested and found to comply with applicable NIJ 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.