On Tuesday (March 30), lawmakers in Kentucky passed a bill that imposes statewide limits on the use of no-knock warrants. The legislation approval comes over a year after the death of Breonna Taylor who was fatally shot by Louisville police officers during a botched raid on her apartment.
According to WDRB, the Kentucky House of Representatives passed in a 92-5 vote, and the Senate voted unanimously in favor of the bill, sending it to the desk of Governor Andy Beshear for a final signature before it becomes law.
The law, Senate Bill 4, does not completely ban no-knock warrants in the state, however it puts in place stricter guidelines for police to obtain no-knock warrants. To get a no-knock warrant, officers must now have “clear and convincing” evidence of a crime that is violent or terroristic activity, the outlet reported. Body cameras or audio equipment has to be used during the execution of a no-knock warrant under the bill, which also states that without body cam or audio use on the part of law enforcement, any evidence obtained during the raid is inadmissible in court.
State Rep. Attica Scott, who proposed a House bill to eliminate no-knock warrants in the state altogether, said in a statement she voted in favor of this bill, but not without reluctance.
“While this body will never truly address racial justice, I voted ‘yes’ because daughters like mine deserve a chance to live without wondering if they will be next,” the statement reads.
Breonna Taylor’s death fueled national outrage and months-long protests against police violence.
Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who was with her at the time of the raid, recently filed a lawsuit against the Louisville Police Department over civil rights violations.
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