Law Enforcement Body Armor: DOJ Supports Its Use and Enhancements, but Could Strengthen Management of Its Related Grant Programs

Abstract

I am pleased to be here to discuss the findings of our report being publicly issued today assessing the Department of Justices (DOJ) body armor initiatives.1 Nationwide, nearly 60 law enforcement officers were killed in 2010 after firearm-related assaults, but recent data show that body armor has saved the lives of more than 3,000 law enforcement officers since 1987. Recognizing body armor as an effective tool in helping to protect law enforcement officers, DOJ- through its Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and its National Institute of Justice (NIJ)- has implemented initiatives, such as direct grants to states and localities to support their body armor use, as well as research and testing for compliance with standards to continuously improve body armor effectiveness. These initiatives have involved internal and external stakeholders, including law enforcement components within DOJ; components within the Department of Commerce and the Department of Defense (DOD). My testimony this morning will address the key findings from the body armor report that we are issuing today. Like that report, my statement will address (1) the body armor efforts that DOJ has under way, (2) the extent to which DOJ has designed internal controls to manage and coordinate these efforts, and (3) factors that affect body armor use and effectiveness and steps DOJ has taken to address them. that conduct related body armor research; and private entities, such as those that manufacture and assist in testing body armor. To conduct our work, we examined program data on BJAs Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) program for fiscal years 1999 through 2011 as well as its Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program for fiscal years 2006 through 2011. These are DOJs two grant programs supporting state and local law enforcements purchases of body armor.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 15, 2012
Accession Number
AD1179896

Entities

People

  • David C. Maurer
  • Heather May
  • Joy Booth
  • Juan Tapia-videla

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accountability
  • Armor
  • Body Armor
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • Law Enforcement Officers
  • Materials
  • National Governments
  • New York
  • Procurement
  • Standards
  • Statistical Samples
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Methods
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Military Science