Frequently Asked Questions

The following agencies perform full-scale performance testing on police patrol vehicles as part of their procurement process: the Michigan State Police (MSP) and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office (LACSO). Visit the MSP and LACSO websites for information on their testing programs and to obtain copies of test reports.

Standards for ballistic and riot helmets can be found on the Active National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Standards and Comparative Test Methods section of the NIJ website. Watch the following NIJ video to learn more about this topic: NIJ Civil Disturbance Unit Standards: The Importance of Standards and Testing.

Additionally, see ASTM Standard E3111 / E3111-18, Standard Test Method for Ballistic Head Protection and the Criminal Justice Testing & Evaluation Consortium (CJTEC) Equipment Standards page to learn more.

Developed by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center, the Field Search software suite of products was designed specifically for use in the field by non-technical criminal justice personnel to quickly and efficiently search an offender's computer and create a detailed report of their findings.

However, with the conclusion of the Justice Technology Information Program in 2019, the Field Search software is no longer distributed or supported. For more information on the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ’s) current research in digital evidence, please see the Digital Evidence and Forensics page on the NIJ website.

See the National Institute of Justice-Approved Test Laboratories section of the Criminal Justice Testing & Evaluation Consortium website for a listing of facilities and to learn about the process to become an NIJ-approved test laboratory.

You can view information about National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Standards on the Equipment Standards and Conformity Assessment section of the NIJ website. Using this site, you can find active NIJ standards, inactive standards, and additional information about the program.

Currently, no NIJ Standard exists to specifically address armored vehicles. Such items are generally covered under the provisions of NIJ Standard-0108.01: Ballistic Resistant Protective Materials. ASTM International does have several related standards that may be of interest: ASTM E3112/E3112M-20: Standard Test Method for Ballistic-Resistant Products and Shoot Packs and ASTM E3113-18: Standard Specification for Ballistic-Resistant Vehicle Door Panels Used by Public Safety Agencies.

You can also view information about NIJ Standards on the Criminal Justice Testing & Evaluation (CJTEC) website. If you have further questions regarding NIJ Standards, please contact CJTEC directly at 919-485-2717 or [email protected].

The Criminal Justice Testing & Evaluation Consortium (CJTEC) website contains information about equipment used by public safety agencies. Located on the CJTEC site are the Compliant Products Lists for both ballistic- and stab-resistant body armor. The list contains information about the body armor models that have been tested and found to comply with the NIJ Standard requirements. Additionally, agencies can find information on Advisory and Safety Notices, which NIJ and the Compliance Testing Program use to communicate safety concerns to criminal justice agencies.

For information about NIJ Standards, visit the NIJ Standards and Conformity Assessment Program section of the NIJ website. From this page, you will have access to a listing of Active NIJ Standards and Inactive NIJ Standards, along with further information that may be of use to you.

Also, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) teamed up with NIJ to launch PoliceArmor.org. This site provides information on how to select, wear and care for body armor, and provides access to the compliant product lists.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has published CBRN Protective Ensemble Standard for Law Enforcement - NIJ Standard 0116.00, which presents information for those responding to chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear incidents. For additional information, visit the Counter-Terrorism and Domestic Preparedness section of our website.

Department of Justice budget information, including a breakdown by agency, can be located on the Department of Justice: Justice Management Division (JMD) website. Please see the Publications section of the JMD site for Budget and Performance Summary reports as well as Budget Highlights reports. Also see the Department of Justice's Budget and Performance section and the Office of Justice Programs Significant Events in the Budget and Appropriations Process for a timeline of budget-related events and terms and definitions.

Training products related to DNA training programs are available on the NIJ-Hosted Online Training Courses section of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) website.

Community policing focuses on crime and social disorder through the delivery of police services that includes aspects of traditional law enforcement, as well as prevention, problem-solving, community engagement, and partnerships. View Community Policing Defined, a resource from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to learn more.