A federal jury found Brett Hankison, a former Louisville police officer, guilty of violating civil rights during the deadly raid in 2020 that killed Breonna Taylor. He will spend 33 months in prison. One of the most talked-about law enforcement cases in the United States has reached a major turning point with this decision.
During the raid, Hankison shot ten shots blindly, which was too much force. His rounds didn’t hit Taylor, but they did hit an apartment next door, placing a toddler and a pregnant lady in danger. The case, which sparked protests around the country and helped the Black Lives Matter movement, is still being looked at for how police are held accountable.
Why was Brett Hankison found guilty?
The Breonna Taylor case was about a “no-knock” warrant that was not done correctly by officers in civilian clothes. Police broke into her residence late at night because they thought her ex-boyfriend was using it for unlawful activities. The police broke in when Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were asleep.
Walker shot one cop because he thought intruders had come in. Police fired 32 shots in response, 10 of which came from Hankison. He later said he did so to defend other police, even though none of his bullets hit anyone. But they put people who lived close in peril.
The jury said that what he did was “reckless and unjustified” and violated Taylor’s constitutional rights. Here is the link to our article on Workplace Justice Reform
What happened with the sentencing?
Hankison might have gotten a life sentence, but the federal court only gave him 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. This happened even though the Trump-led Justice Department, which was chosen following the 2024 election, made an unexpected suggestion that only one day in jail be given.
Civil rights activists and Taylor’s family were quite upset with this big change from the Biden administration’s previous position.
Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, acknowledged the judge’s limitations but expressed dissatisfaction with the prosecution’s leniency. Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, described the penalty as a “small piece of justice.”
What Part Did the Justice Department Play?
Trump’s return to power turned the Breonna Taylor case into a political issue. The Trump administration reduced efforts to hold police accountable for wrongdoing.
In actuality, the administration abandoned cases against the Louisville Metro Police Department and other police departments in cities like Minneapolis and Phoenix. The government halted investigations into widespread abuses and undid the supervision agreements established during Biden’s tenure.
Many lawyers have left the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division since it recommended Hankison’s punishment. Reports say that around 70% of people have fled the division since early 2025. Here is the link to our article on the Justice Humanitarian Crisis
What legal actions and efforts to hold people accountable are still going on?
Kelly Goodlett, another former cop who helped make the search warrant document false, is due to be punished next year. Hankison is still the only cop who has been found guilty of activities during the raid, but the judicial process is continuing.
Protesters, civil rights groups, and Taylor’s family have all promised to keep pushing for complete accountability.
Final Thoughts
The Breonna Taylor case represents a pivotal moment in the struggle for civil rights and police accountability. Many people think that Brett Hankison’s imprisonment doesn’t fully make up for the damage he did, even though it is a step forward. This case has brought up national discussions about racial fairness, the use of force, and changing the system. This situation continues to impact the public’s requests for police transparency and honesty. Despite the country’s serious problems, people in the U.S. remain determined to make long-lasting changes.
