Body armor is changing for the better, thanks to new performance standards set by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The NIJ is the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and is dedicated to researching crime-control and justice issues. The new NIJ Standard-0101.06, as it’s officially called, specifies revised minimum-performance requirements that body armor must meet to satisfy the needs of criminal-justice agencies. It also establishes the methods... Read More »

You should evaluate your shield's performance prior to use, even if your agency purchased it for you. Performance refers to a shield’s ability to stop NIJ standard* rounds/velocities, as well as rounds/velocities beyond the standard’s requirements (special threats). You should always request a copy of the manufacturer’s shield test results. I also run through this mental checklist... Read More »