# Paris goes free! WTF?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 7, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120 "2007-06-07T14:44:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/181 "2007-06-08T19:53:47Z")
Has her “medical condition” been identified? ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/182 "2007-06-08T19:53:49Z")
[QUOTE=Honey] I don’t get this either. She was to serve 23 days. [/QUOTE] I believe it’s called “caving in to political pressure”. Oh, I just saw Steven’s post. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/183 "2007-06-08T19:55:42Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] I agree that the judge is making an example of her. It’s an example that needs to be made, however. [/quote] The example is that rich people deserve worse treatment than poor people? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/184 "2007-06-08T19:56:11Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I also think she was over-sentenced in the first place. Most people wouldn’t go to jail at all just for driving without a license or a 1st time DUI. The “special treatment” is going against her, not for her. [/QUOTE] you’re short changing what she did. She was sentenced for violating her probation (probation was for the DUI), violated by driving w/o license twice plus not bothering signing up for the alcohol awareness classes as ordered. Remember, she was recently put on probation. This really is a significant number of serious violations of that probation in such a short time. IME and jurisdiction, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a jail sentence for this. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/185 "2007-06-08T19:58:07Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I agree as well, and add that anyone who thinks three days in jail is nothing has never been and has no idea what the hell they are talking about. [/QUOTE] I know exactly what if feels like, and I’m one of those who think it is an insufficient sentence for the crimes she committed. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/186 "2007-06-08T19:59:18Z")
[QUOTE=Slacker] You’re watching Fox News? [/QUOTE] I _knew_ it! I’ve long suspected **Diogenes** to be a closet rightie. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/187 "2007-06-08T20:00:14Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] The example is that rich people deserve worse treatment than poor people? [/QUOTE] That everyone is equal under the law. Do you think a poor person who pulled the shit Paris had pulled would not be in jail? When poor people cry, the Sheriff feels sorry and lets them out? That when they voilate parole twice, they get house arrest? Do you know what happens when poor people go to jail? They writhe in agony with DTs while cops and corrections officers laugh. They get time added when they violate parole. Sometimes they call for their mommy when they get lead away, too. Nobody feels sorry for them. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/188 "2007-06-08T20:04:15Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I’m saying the intensity of the hatred is out of proportion to the crime. I also think she was over-sentenced in the first place. Most people wouldn’t go to jail at all just for driving without a license or a 1st time DUI. The “special treatment” is going against her, not for her. [/QUOTE] She got probation for the DUI, this jail sentence was for violating that probation and driving impared again. That said, this morning a defense lawyer said that the average joe would be sentenced to 10 days in jail for the same offense and spend no more than 3 days actually in jail. The judge was initially angry that she was late for her first trial. I believe part of the reason he put her full sentence back, is because it was discovered this morning that since she expected to be on house arrest, she planned a big party at home. A truck was delivering chairs, dishes, heaters, and booze this morning when the police arrived to take her to court. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/189 "2007-06-08T20:05:40Z")
And I **do** feel sorry for Paris. Every time I think of that poor, rich darling being dragged off to jail in handcuffs I have to choke back large, moist snorts of anguish. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/190 "2007-06-08T20:06:36Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] She’s not going to jail for the DUI, except technically. She’s going to jail for violating her probation twice. [/QUOTE] Once. She was only cited once. She got a DUI (something nobody goes to jail for the first time) and then she got sent to jail for driving with a suspended license. The totality of what she did is still not something an ordinary person would do any time for. She got treated worse because she’s a celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/191 "2007-06-08T20:06:42Z")
[QUOTE=picunurse] She got probation for the DUI, this jail sentence was for violating that probation and driving impared again. That said, this morning a defense lawyer said that the average joe would be sentenced to 10 days in jail for the same offense and spend no more than 3 days actually in jail. The judge was initially angry that she was late for her first trial. I believe part of the reason he put her full sentence back, is because it was discovered this morning that since she expected to be on house arrest, she planned a big party at home. A truck was delivering chairs, dishes, heaters, and booze this morning when the police arrived to take her to court. [/QUOTE] The morning drive guys said the same-- about her planning a big party. But I haven’t seen any real proof of this. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/192 "2007-06-08T20:06:42Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I also think she was over-sentenced in the first place. Most people wouldn’t go to jail at all just for driving without a license or a 1st time DUI. The “special treatment” is going against her, not for her. [/QUOTE] Neither did Paris. Nor did she get jail time for driving with a suspended license during her probation. However the **second** time she was _caught_ driving with a suspended license during her probation the law decided ‘enough is enough’. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/193 "2007-06-08T20:09:01Z")
[QUOTE=wring] you’re short changing what she did. She was sentenced for violating her probation (probation was for the DUI), violated by driving w/o license twice plus not bothering signing up for the alcohol awareness classes as ordered. Remember, she was recently put on probation. This really is a significant number of serious violations of that probation in such a short time. IME and jurisdiction, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a jail sentence for this. [/QUOTE] You’d think so, but I really do think that the average person has no idea that there’s a huge difference between the sentence and reality. They think a person sentenced to serve 45 days will spend 45 days in jail. In reality, serving a few days is very common, esp if the jail is full and if the offense was non-violent. My brother’s nephew was recently sentenced to 30 days in jail for his second DUI. I believe he actually served less than a week. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/194 "2007-06-08T20:09:06Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Once. She was only cited once. She got a DUI (something nobody goes to jail for the first time) and then she got sent to jail for driving with a suspended license. The totality of what she did is still not something an ordinary person would do any time for. She got treated worse because she’s a celebrity. [/QUOTE] Twice. She violated parole twice. The first time she said she didn’t know she wasn’t supposed to drive, so they made her sign an affidavit. The second time she claimed she didn’t know she wasn’t supposed to drive but the document was in her glove compartment at the time. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/195 "2007-06-08T20:09:36Z")
The one bit I think many are ignoring (but I do think the other sheriffs and judges are wondering about) is what would happen if they allowed this sweet deal with Paris to continue. I do think sheriffs and judges fear the nightmare scenario of thousands of offenders in similar situations , but that they are not too well to do, getting the help of many lawyers and they would clog the system with demands to get the same or similar deals for their clients. And a hefty payment if the government does not comply. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/196 "2007-06-08T20:11:37Z")
[QUOTE=Lamar Mundane] (I can’t believe I’m posting in a Paris Hilton thread…) The judge says now she has to serve 45 days instead of the reduced ammount she was going to be in for. I get that he’s pissed off at the sherrif for letting her out, but taking it out on the girl doesn’t seem right. [/QUOTE] I agree. Baca’s the one who screwed up (IMO), and yet the judge is making Hilton pay the price. I think Baca’s ass should’ve been sentenced to the differential in days for his act of contempt. Ok, maybe not, but still, it’s shouldn’t fall on Hilton’s shoulders, either, much as I think it’s right that she be sent back to jail. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/197 "2007-06-08T20:12:11Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Once. She was only cited once. She got a DUI (something nobody goes to jail for the first time) and then she got sent to jail for driving with a suspended license. The totality of what she did is still not something an ordinary person would do any time for. She got treated worse because she’s a celebrity. [/QUOTE] No, she was pulled in front of the judge once but she violated her probation 3 times (2 driving w/o ops and the aforementioned classes). I’ve been to enough probation violation hearings to have seen that played out. Rarely is some one pulled in front of the judge for a single violation of their probation (unless it’s an egregious violation). and **BigGirl** I love you, you know this, but probation and parole are two completely different things. Paris is on probation. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/198 "2007-06-08T20:12:56Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] That everyone is equal under the law. Do you think a poor person who pulled the shit Paris had pulled would not be in jail? When poor people cry, the Sheriff feels sorry and lets them out? That when they voilate parole twice, they get house arrest? [/quote] Actually, some people who are in a position to know such things have said that it’s not unusual at all for people to be released early. The reason you don’t normally hear about it is that poor people don’t have media jackals following them around 24 hours a day. Jails are overcrowded and people are released early all the time. And I don’t know if that’s necessarily a bad thing when you consider how high the incarceration rate is in the U.S. compared to other Western countries. Instead of continuing to throw more and more people into jail, maybe we need to look at why we _need_ to have so many people in jail. But I digress - if your average Joe talk-radio-listener was aware of the fact that people are released early all the time, he’d probably be outraged about it. It’s just that Paris is getting so much more attention than your average jail-occupant. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if she’s actually getting harsher treatment than an average person who isn’t being scrutinized by the media. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/199 "2007-06-08T20:13:29Z")
[QUOTE=wring] and **BigGirl** I love you, you know this, but probation and parole are two completely different things. Paris is on probation. [/QUOTE] Oops! Too bad the edit window isn’t 2 hours long. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120/200 "2007-06-08T20:15:02Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] You’d think so, but I really do think that the average person has no idea that there’s a huge difference between the sentence and reality. They think a person sentenced to serve 45 days will spend 45 days in jail. In reality, serving a few days is very common, esp if the jail is full and if the offense was non-violent. My brother’s nephew was recently sentenced to 30 days in jail for his second DUI. I believe he actually served less than a week. [/QUOTE] and this related to the post you quoted, how? I was arguing that a jail sentence for her 3 probation violations in short order was not at all uncommon, IME. I’m not touching on how jail days get counted, or the likelyhood (high, IME) of a sentence being shorter due to overcrowding, good time etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-goes-free-wtf/407120.md?page=11)