Equipment Testing and Evaluation Program
Equipment Manufacturers

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Office of Science and Technology, through NLECTC-National in Rockville, Maryland, administers testing programs for commercially available law enforcement and corrections equipment to ensure that the equipment utilized in the field is safe, reliable, and meets the needs and requirements of the user community.

NLECTC currently administers two types of testing:

• Standards-based testing, where products are tested in accordance with commercial voluntary national performance standards developed though NIJ's Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES), located at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This testing, conducted at NIJ-approved independent testing laboratories, confirms the equipment's compliance with NIJ standards. Many law enforcement and corrections agencies require compliance with NIJ standards before the equipment is purchased.

  Testing of this type is now being performed on:

  • Ballistic-resistant body armor
  • Stab-resistant body armor
  • Metallic handcuffs
  • Semiautomatic pistols
  • Walk-through metal detectors



• Comparative evaluation programs, where equipment is "field-tested" and the test data is published, allowing users to select the product that best suits their needs and requirements.

  Testing of this type is now being performed on:

  • Patrol vehicles
  • Patrol vehicle tires
  • Replacement brake pads
  • Cut, puncture, and pathogen-resistant protective gloves

If you are an equipment manufacturer either currently participating in, or seeking to participate in, NLECTC's equipment testing programs, please select one of the options at the left of the screen for more information. If you cannot find the information you are seeking on the web site, please contact the appropriate NLECTC staff member as indicated in the following chart.