The US Department of Justice has made a significant recommendation concerning the sentencing of former police officer Brett Hankison, who was convicted of violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor. Taylor was tragically shot and killed in her bedroom by police in Louisville, Kentucky, during a botched narcotics raid in March 2020. The Justice Department is advocating for a one-day jail sentence followed by a period of supervised release for Hankison, who is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday.
In November 2024, Hankison was found guilty of one count of civil rights abuse for his actions during the raid, which involved shooting into Taylor’s bedroom window, obscured by blinds and a blackout curtain. This reckless act occurred at the wrong residence, and while Hankison faces a maximum potential sentence of life in prison, the Justice Department's attorneys have argued for a drastically reduced sentence, citing various factors.
During the raid, Hankison's bullets struck the apartment next door, where a couple lived with their five-year-old child. Fortunately, none of his shots hit Taylor, her boyfriend Kenneth Walker—who was present in the room—or any of their neighbors, as investigators determined. The circumstances surrounding the shooting have raised profound questions about police conduct and accountability.
In a memorandum dated July 16, assistant attorney general for civil rights Harmeet K Dhillon and senior counsel Robert J Keenan put forth arguments for leniency in Hankison's sentence. They highlighted that since he did not injure anyone and has an otherwise clean record, he should only be subjected to three years of supervised release. Additionally, the memo noted that Hankison has experienced significant psychological stress as a result of the trial proceedings.
The Justice Department’s memorandum contends that "there is no need for a prison sentence to protect the public from [the] defendant or to provide ‘just’ punishment or deterrence.” It also points out that Hankison was initially tried in 2023, which resulted in a mistrial, and he was acquitted of a second charge concerning the civil rights of the neighbors.
The memorandum emphasizes that the government respects the jury's verdict and believes it will likely prevent Hankison from serving as a law enforcement officer in the future and from legally possessing a firearm. Hankison was terminated from the Louisville Metro Police Department in June 2020, shortly after the incident. The tragic death of Breonna Taylor has since fueled nationwide protests and movements, including Black Lives Matter, advocating for police reform and justice.
If the judge agrees with the Justice Department's recommendation, Hankison could potentially serve no jail time, as his initial booking and court appearance would count toward the one-day sentence. This decision has the potential to stir further discussions about police accountability and the justice system's handling of cases involving civil rights abuses.
