• The US Justice Department recommends a one-day prison sentence for Brett Hankison, convicted in the Breonna Taylor case.
• Hankison was found guilty of civil rights violations during a botched police raid that resulted in Taylor's death.
• Family attorneys express outrage over the recommendation, viewing it as a severe lack of accountability for police officers.
• Prosecutors argue there is "no need for a prison sentence to protect the public" from Hankison.
• The sentencing by a federal judge is scheduled for July 22, 2025.

The U.S. Justice Department has recommended a controversial one-day prison sentence for Brett Hankison, the former Louisville police officer convicted of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights during a botched raid in March 2020. This sentencing memo submitted by the DOJ noted that Hankison's actions did not directly kill Taylor, which has sparked considerable backlash from her family and civil rights advocates, who view this move as an attack on accountability in law enforcement practices, according to Reuters and HuffPost.

Brett Hankison was convicted in late 2024 for firing ten blind shots into Taylor's apartment during the police operation, which led to her death. Prosecutors argued that Hankison’s actions violated Taylor's and her neighbors' civil rights, stating that "there is no need for a prison sentence to protect the public," as Hankison is unlikely to serve as a police officer again. The DOJ memo recommended that he serve one day in prison, which would be considered time served, along with three years of supervised probation, according to ABC News and Al Jazeera.

This recommendation marks a significant departure from the aggressive prosecution strategy under the previous administration, drawing ire from civil rights groups and Taylor’s family. Ben Crump, the attorney representing Taylor's family, stated that the recommendation was "an insult to the life of Breonna Taylor and a blatant betrayal of the jury’s decision," signaling concerns about systemic injustices faced by Black individuals in law enforcement interactions. This sentiment echoes across various media platforms, including BBC and Le Monde.