$25M in Grants Available for Bulletproof Vests

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. The OJP's Bureau of Justic Assistance (BJA) has 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.

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).

For more information, including how to apply for a grant, visit http://vests.ojp.gov. To receive assistance in completing the application, you can call 877-758-3787.