The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has issued an updated standard for ballistic-resistant body armor – NIJ Standard 0101.07 – tailored to the needs of law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies.
Key updates include improved test methods for armor designed for women; more rigorous testing of soft armor panels; revised testing of hard armor plates, including curved plates; and references to ten standardized test methods, laboratory practices and terminology guides.
Law enforcement agencies should expect to see body armor certified to the updated standard in late 2024 or early 2025.
Officers should continue wearing their NIJ certified vests. Given the large number of ballistic-resistant vests currently worn by officers, NIJ anticipates maintaining armor certified under the former standard (0101.06) on the Compliant Products List through at least the end of calendar year 2027.
