President Clinton Signs Bullet Proof Vest Parnership Grant Act of 1998

November 9, 1998

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) in the United States Department of Justice (DO J), will soon be administering a new program. In June President Clinton signed into law the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-181). This law provides that:

• The US Department of Justice will create and administer a new program to assist State and local authorities and Indian tribes in providing bulletproof vests to their officers;

• Up to 50 percent of the costs of the vests can be Federally funded, with local and state governments matching the remaining costs;

• For fiscal years 1999-2001, $25 million has been authorized. Of that amount, at least half will be awarded to units of local government with fewer than 100,000 residents;

• Preference will be given to localities with average or above-average violent crime rates, local policies requiring officers to wear vests, and greater-than-average need for additional vests;

• The program will be available to all law enforcement officers. As defined in the language of the bill, law enforcement officers include any officer, agent, or employee of a State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, or investigation of any violation of criminal law, or authorized by law to supervise sentenced criminal offenders.