The Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program helps protect the lives of law enforcement officers by assisting state, local, and tribal governments equip their officers with armor vests. The program pays up to 50% of the cost of vests purchased by jurisdictions with approved applications. Eligible law enforcement officers include police officers, sheriff's deputies, correctional officers, parole and probation agents, prosecutors, and judicial officials. Applicants may select and purchase any ballistic or stab vest that meets applicable NIJ standards, including vests that contain ZylonŽ. It is imperative that jurisdictions and law enforcement agencies not order vests contained in their application until approved by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), unless they have sufficient funds to cover initial costs and any potential shortfall that may result if less than 50% is provided by DOJ.

Body Armor Safety Initiative - An Initiative of U.S. Department of Justice. In response to concerns from the law enforcement community, Attorney General John Ashcroft has announced a Department of Justice (DOJ) initiative to address the reliability of body armor used by law enforcement personnel and to examine the future of bullet-resistant technology and testing. As part of this initiative, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) will examine ZylonŽ-based bullet-resistant vests (both new and used) and review the existing process by which bullet-resistant vests are certified.