Could Paris Hilton Avoid Jail Time?

By: Shannon Gossage

A Los Angeles Sheriff’s rep reportedly said that Hilton could face only hours in jail compared to her 45-day sentence because the jails are completely overcrowded with inmates. The spokesman, Steve Whitmore, allegedly said, "She could be processed into jail and processed out hours later – that’s possible. It would mainly be due to the jail overcrowding issue. It all depends on the inmate populations at the time she’s processed." He added, "But the public can expect that the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department will make the best decision for everyone involved. We will treat [Hilton] as we would any other. That’s our goal."

It has been reported that the Sheriff’s Department is actually who makes the decision because the jails are so incredibly overcrowded that at times they make the decision to release "nonviolent offenders" early to try and help control the overcrowding. Hilton is set to report to jail on June 4 to begin her 45-day jail term. She was sentenced to 45-days in jail after she was found guilty of violating her probation by driving on a suspended license. Her license was suspended after she was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

Hilton is reportedly "distraught and traumatized" by the thought of going to jail according to her psychiatrist Dr. Charles Sophy. But there could be hope for the heiress if the overcrowded jails are in fact an issue. Actress Michelle Rodriguez reportedly served less than 5 hours of her 2-month sentence in May 2006 after her arrest for DUI in Hawaii. Hilton’s mother, Kathy, reportedly said in a statement that was read on The View on Wednesday: "We can only hope that something positive will come from this. Hopefully, young people who look up to Paris can learn from this." Well, hopefully young people don’t look up to the likes of Paris…