WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of
Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced today that it has
determined that the Pinnacle Armor, Inc. bulletproof vest model SOV
2000.1/MIL3AF01, is not in compliance with the requirements of OJP's
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) voluntary compliance testing program
for bullet-resistant body armor. Effective immediately, this body armor
model will be removed from the NIJ list of bullet-resistant body armor
models that satisfy its requirements. Pinnacle Armor, Inc. is the maker of
"dragon skin" body armor.
    NIJ, OJP's research, development, and evaluation component, has
reviewed evidence provided by the body armor manufacturer and has
determined that the evidence is insufficient to demonstrate that the body
armor model will maintain its ballistic performance over its six-year
declared warranty period. Notwithstanding NIJ's determination, the
Department encourages public safety officers to wear their Pinnacle Body
Armor, Inc. body armor, model SOV 2000.1/MIL3AF01 until replacement because
research has shown that officers are more likely to suffer a fatal injury
when not wearing body armor.
    In addition, the Department strongly recommends that public safety
agencies and officers who purchase new bullet-resistant body armor verify,
prior to purchase, that the body armor model appears on NIJ's list of
models that comply with its most current requirements, the 2005 Interim
Requirements for Bullet-Resistant Body Armor. A list of these models is
available at https://www.justnet.org. The Department also encourages public
safety officers to follow body armor manufacturer "wear and care"
instructions, and not to store armor in the trunk of their vehicle or other
environments in which armor might be exposed to extreme heat or cold.
Information about the DOJ Body Armor Safety Initiative can be found at
https://vests.ojp.gov.
    The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney
General Regina B. Schofield, provides federal leadership in developing the
nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and
assist victims. OJP has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice
Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of
Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the
Office for Victims of Crime. Additionally, OJP has two program offices: the
Community Capacity Development Office, which incorporates the Weed and Seed
strategy, and the Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending,
Registering and Tracking (SMART) Office. More information can be found at
https://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.