US seeks one-day prison for officer convicted in Breonna Taylor shooting

July 17, 2025

The Trump administration has requested a one-day prison sentence for former Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison, who was convicted of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights during a botched raid that resulted in her death. Despite the maximum sentence for the charge being life imprisonment, prosecutors argue that since Hankison's bullets didn't hit Taylor and he didn't cause her death directly, additional prison time would be unjust. The Taylor family's attorneys have condemned the recommendation as "an insult" that sends a message that white officers can violate Black Americans' rights with impunity.

Who is affected

Breonna Taylor's family
Brett Hankison (former police officer)
Black Americans (as mentioned by Taylor family attorneys)
The neighboring apartment residents (a pregnant woman, a five-year-old, and a man) whose home was hit by Hankison's bullets
The broader public concerned with police accountability and racial justice

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is requesting a one-day prison sentence for Hankison
The Justice Department is also asking for three years of supervised release
Attorneys representing the Taylor family are publicly opposing the sentence recommendation
A judge is scheduled to consider the government's sentencing request next week

Why it matters

The case represents issues of police accountability, particularly regarding the use of excessive force against Black Americans
The recommended sentence is significantly less than the potential maximum of life imprisonment
The case became central to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020
The sentencing recommendation may set precedent for similar cases involving police misconduct
According to Taylor family attorneys, the recommendation sends a message about unequal justice and "near-total impunity" for white officers who violate Black Americans' civil rights

What's next

A judge will consider the government's sentencing request at a hearing scheduled for next week.

Read full article from source: BBC