DOJ Recommends One-Day Sentence for Ex-Officer Brett Hankison in Breonna Taylor Civil Rights Case

Louisville, Kentucky – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended a one-day prison sentence for former Louisville Metro Police Department officer Brett Hankison, who was federally convicted last year of violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights during a 2020 raid that led to her death. This recommendation, made in a recent court filing by the current Trump administration’s DOJ, has ignited widespread criticism from civil rights advocates and Taylor’s family attorneys, who call it an "insult" and a "betrayal" of justice.

Hankison was found guilty in November 2024 of one count of using excessive force, specifically for blindly firing ten shots into Taylor’s apartment through a covered window and door. While his actions did not directly cause Taylor’s death, the conviction carried a maximum sentence of life in prison. This federal conviction followed Hankison's acquittal in March 2022 on state wanton endangerment charges related to bullets entering a neighboring apartment.

The DOJ's sentencing memorandum, signed by political appointees rather than career prosecutors, argues that a lengthy prison sentence is unnecessary. It states that Hankison’s conviction will likely prevent him from serving as a law enforcement officer or possessing a firearm again. The memo also notes that Hankison did not shoot Taylor and suggests that his "unreasonable response" in the "fraught circumstances" did not directly wound anyone.

Attorneys for Breonna Taylor’s family, including Ben Crump, have vehemently denounced the recommendation. > "Recommending just one day in prison sends the unmistakable message that white officers can violate the civil rights of Black Americans with near-total impunity," the family's legal team stated, expressing that Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, is "heartbroken and angry." Louisville Metro Council Representative Shameka Parrish-Wright echoed this sentiment, calling the recommendation "a devastating slap in the face."

The incident stems from a March 13, 2020, raid on Taylor’s apartment by plainclothes officers executing a search warrant. Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired a single shot, striking an officer, stating he believed intruders were breaking into their home. Officers returned fire, fatally striking Taylor. Walker was initially charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but those state charges were later dismissed with prejudice in March 2021.

Recent legal developments have further complicated the case. In August 2024, U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson ruled that Kenneth Walker’s actions were the "legal cause" of Taylor's death, not a faulty warrant. This ruling led to the dismissal of major felony charges against two other former officers, Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, who were accused of falsifying the warrant. Another officer, Kelly Goodlett, previously pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge related to the warrant.

The DOJ’s recommendation for Hankison signals a notable shift in the department’s approach to police accountability under the current administration, moving away from previous efforts to pursue more aggressive reforms and consent decrees with police departments. Hankison’s sentencing is scheduled for next week, where the federal judge will consider the DOJ’s recommendation amidst intense public scrutiny and calls for full accountability.