Testing and Evaluation

NLECTC publishes and disseminates test results in the following formats:

• Bulletins, which summarize the test process and provide preliminary test data.

• Equipment Performance Reports (EPRs), which provide a complete listing of test procedures and detailed test data.

• Consumer Product Lists (CPLs), which list all models of products tested, by manufacturer, that are found to comply with NIJ Standards.

NLECTC staff provide technical and procurement assistance through:

• A toll-free 800 hotline.

• Specialized demonstrations or instructional presentations upon request.

• User guides to assist agencies with the procurement process.

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.

Equipment testing priorities are developed with the assistance of NLECTC’s Advisory Councils. Based on these priorities, two types of testing programs are being administered:

• Standards-based testing, where products are tested in accordance with commercial voluntary national performance standards developed through 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

Contacts:

NLECTC-National:
Lance Miller, Testing Manager
Tel: 800-248-2742
lmiller@nlectc.org

Office of Law Enforcement Standards:
Kathleen Higgins, Director
Tel: 301-975-2757
kathleen.higgins@nist.gov