The Brooklyn district attorney’s office asked a state judge Wednesday to spare former New York Police Department officer Peter Liang prison time in the 2014 shooting death of an unarmed man in the stairwell of a Brooklyn public-housing complex.

In a memo to Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, District Attorney Kenneth Thompson recommended that instead of state prison time, Mr. Liang be sentenced to five years’ probation including six months’ house arrest, where he would wear an electronic bracelet, and 500 hours of community service.

Justice Chun doesn’t have to follow the district attorney’s request, but prosecutors’ recommendations typically play a strong role in sentencing decisions.

Mr. Liang, who was convicted in February of manslaughter for accidentally firing the shot that killed 28-year-old Akai Gurley, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

Mr. Thompson said that while Mr. Liang was convicted because his actions led to the death of an innocent man, “there is no evidence, however, that he intended to kill or injure Mr. Gurley.”