A former Kentucky police officer, Brett Hankison, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was fatally shot in her home during a botched police raid in 2020. Hankison was convicted last year of using excessive force during the raid, which resulted in Taylor’s death.

The sentencing comes days after the Trump administration asked the judge to give Hankison a one-day sentence, a recommendation that was met with criticism from Taylor’s family and their lawyers. “Every American who believes in equal justice under the law should be outraged,” the family’s lawyers said. “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.”

Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, expressed mixed feelings about the sentence, saying, “I think the judge did the best she could with what she had to work with.” However, she was critical of federal prosecutors who had argued for a lesser sentence. Kenneth Walker, Taylor’s boyfriend who was in the apartment with her the night of the raid, said he was “grateful for the small piece of justice that we got.”

The raid was sparked by a “no-knock” search warrant, which allowed officers to enter Taylor’s home without announcing themselves. Hankison fired 10 shots into Taylor’s apartment, claiming he was protecting fellow officers. However, prosecutors argued that he acted recklessly and “violated one of the most fundamental rules of deadly force: If they cannot see the person they’re shooting at, they cannot pull the trigger.”

The case has been closely watched, with many seeing it as a test of accountability for police officers who violate citizens’ civil rights. The sentencing is a rare instance of a police officer being held accountable for their actions, and it has been met with a mix of relief and frustration from the community.

The Trump administration’s recommendation for a lenient sentence has also sparked controversy, with many criticizing the department’s decision to downplay Hankison’s role in Taylor’s death. “His use of deadly force was unlawful and put Ms Taylor in harm’s way,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said after Hankison’s conviction. “This verdict is an important step toward accountability for the violation of Breonna Taylor’s civil rights, but justice for the loss of Ms Taylor is a task that exceeds human capacity.”