She's Out -- After 5 Days

I don’t generally blog about Hollywood-related issues, because, quite frankly, Hollywood bores me. However, with the latest developments in the Paris Hilton “Jail” saga, I have just had enough. If I don’t vent now, my head will explode. Paris, after spending 5 days of her 45-day jail sentence in a “special needs” detention facility will now spend the other 40 days sentenced to life at her home wearing an ankle bracelet, due to “unspecified medical” conditions.

UPDATE*** 6/8/07
I hear she's getting hauled back into court this morning. Maybe we might see some justice after all.
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Here’s the details:

“LOS ANGELES (Map, News) - Paris Hilton was released from a Los Angeles County jail early Thursday because of an unspecified medical problem and will fulfill the reminder of her sentence in home confinement, a sheriff's spokesman said.
The 26-year-old hotel heiress was sent home shortly after 2 a.m. fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet. She had spent five days at the Century Regional Detention Facility in suburban Los Angeles for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.

"I can't specifically talk about the medical situation other than to say that, yes, it played a part in this," said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

Hilton had been sentenced to 45 days behind bars, but had been expected to serve 23 days because of state rules allowing shorter sentences for good behavior.

Whitmore said that under the new agreement, Hilton would be confined to her home for 40 days.

"Because she has agreed to this through her attorney, her sentence is now back up to the 45 days. She has served already five days so that's 40 days," he explained.

Hilton checked into the Century Regional Detention Facility just after 11:30 p.m. Sunday. She had surrendered to authorities with little fanfare after a surprise appearance at the MTV Movie Awards, where she worked the red carpet in a strapless designer gown.

"I am trying to be strong right now," she told reporters at the time. "I'm ready to face my sentence. Even though this is a really hard time, I have my family, my friends and my fans to support me, and that's really helpful."”

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I challenge anyone not a “Holly-s**t” celebrity to get a DUI, drive on a suspended license and get caught (after an accident) and be able to report to jail at 11:30pm when you are done chasing other celebs at the MTV Movie Awards.

Let’s be honest: if there was anyone in the world who could serve 45 days in jail and suffer no lasting consequences, it’s Paris Hilton. She has nowhere to go, nothing to loose, and it will – more than likely – be an enhancement to her “career” rather than a hindrance.

1. She will not suffer and significant financial consequences for being “locked up” for 45 days! She doesn’t work a 40 hour a week job for $50K a year. She won’t loose her home, car, family, and livelihood. She is an heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune, in addition to what she has made on her own in television, a few movies, and the possible royalties from the video tape distribution of her and a former boyfriend having sex.

2. She was not serving 45 days in San Quinton. She was not going to serve her time with the ladies of “Set It Off.”; she was being sent to a special facility that catered to those who could not be mixed with the general prison population. “Hilton was housed in the "special needs" unit of the 13-year-old jail, separate from most of its 2,200 inmates. The unit contains 12 two-person cells reserved for police officers, public officials, celebrities and other high-profile inmates. She didn't have a cellmate.” Heck, a lot of inmates would kill – Oops, did I say that? – to have only themselves in one of those tiny two-person cells.

3. What medical need – except hospice, maybe – could she possibly get at home that could not be provided to her in the city jail system? It’s Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA for crying out loud! They spend tons on taking care of people in jail that they are yet to provide for those who are on the outside. Since the sentence was changed for medical reasons, unless Paris blabs, the reason in question is hidden from the world’s scrutiny due to medical privacy laws. The rest of the nation has no way to know if the Cali legal system gave in to pressure uphold the law and it’s own sentencing. It sure doesn’t look like it did so far.

The one thing that might even this out might be chaining her to her designer sofa and making her watch Court TV for the whole remaining 45 days – including the 2am “info-mericals.” That would seem tougher than her punishment so far. Right now, it looks as another case of special treatment.
That’s a shame. The court had an opportunity to show that the same law – including sentencing – applied to everyone and not just the rank-and-file (which is really needed) while dealing with someone who both deserved it due to her act (no pun intended) and would suffer the least lifestyle consequences.