NCJ Number
177416
Journal
Law Enforcement Trainer Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 1999 Pages: 6-8-20
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the use of body armor by corrections officers.
Abstract
Body armor is barrier protection separating officers from inmates. Concealed body armor also provides psychological advantages to the wearer. A complete understanding of the application and use of body armor by corrections officers requires consideration of six factors: wearability, armor types, concealability, common weapons used by prisoners, armor as part of the survival mind-set and special operations applications, such as cell extraction and quelling disturbances. The three general types of body armor are fragmentation, ballistic and edged weapon, each designed to protect from specific threats. Within the general types are soft and hard configurations, which stop projectiles in different ways. While inmates occasionally use blunt impact instruments, their weapons of choice appear to be homemade sharps and shanks.