Minnesota Lawyer Blog

I have been following with admittedly minimal interest the saga of Paris Hilton. For any one who has been living under a rock the last day or two, the 26-year-old hotel heiress was let out out of jail by the L.A. sheriff after serving only three days of a 45-day sentence (23 days with good behavior). It seems the sheriff was concerned about poor Paris' fragile emotional state, and decided to let her serve the rest of her sentence in her Hollywood home. The sheriff did this even though the judge who sentenced Paris explicitly told her she would be required to serve her sentence in jail.

Now I am not heartless and realize jail must be tough for the former debutante. After all, it's not exactly the Hilton in there. But I can't help thinking about all the people without the benefits of fame, wealth and connections who probably find their jail sentences equally upsetting, but are required to serve them nonetheless. Paris has violated her probation, which shows she has little respect for the law. I don't think she should be given another reason not to respect it.

Paris was already in an area isolated from the majority of the prison population that is reserved for celebrities and other "big ticket" prisoners. This was an understandable precaution. She should be sent back to that cell to serve the remainder of her sentence. Paris' check out time has not yet come yet. While there may not be room service or chocolates left on her pillow in her cell, I think it might be a good thing for her to have a little taste of the simple life.