What in the world??
August 24, 2007 12:40 AM Subscribe
How is "the law" getting away with not throwing Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Nicole Richie into prison when they have multiple DUI's, and were caught with cocaine and/or heroin, all under the public eye, and why are we as citizens just letting this happen?
What the hell is going on and why isn't there anything being done about this?
What the hell is going on and why isn't there anything being done about this?
This post was deleted for the following reason: this is a rant not really disguised as a question.
"Prison overcrowding" is the reason Nicole got out early.
People raised a big stink when Paris got released for a "medical issue" at first, and the Sheriff, Lee Baca, was in a lot of hot water. She eventually went back but also got out early.
posted by HotPatatta at 12:51 AM on August 24, 2007
People raised a big stink when Paris got released for a "medical issue" at first, and the Sheriff, Lee Baca, was in a lot of hot water. She eventually went back but also got out early.
posted by HotPatatta at 12:51 AM on August 24, 2007
It's a state matter. If you "as a citizen" aren't a citizen of California, it isn't anything you can do something about.
Still, it was pretty unreasonable that Richie's prison term was 82 minutes.
And isn't this question "chatfilter"?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:53 AM on August 24, 2007
Still, it was pretty unreasonable that Richie's prison term was 82 minutes.
And isn't this question "chatfilter"?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:53 AM on August 24, 2007
It's the standard deal we make with our celebrities. The deal goes, you get to misbehave as much as you like and as flagrantly as you want, provided (a) we get to make up scurrilous rumours about you and deny you any semblance of privacy (b) we get to treat every single thing you do as if it were at least ten thousand times as important as it actually is and (c) every now and then we get to pick one of you at random and pillory you in public for (c)(i) something you're doing that we wish we could get away with ourselves or (c)(ii) failing to live up to our delusional expectations of you.
Sounds to me as if you think Hilton, Lohan and Richie are about due for (c). Well, they'll just have to wait their turn. We're not quite done with Michael Jackson and Britney Spears just yet.
posted by flabdablet at 1:00 AM on August 24, 2007
Sounds to me as if you think Hilton, Lohan and Richie are about due for (c). Well, they'll just have to wait their turn. We're not quite done with Michael Jackson and Britney Spears just yet.
posted by flabdablet at 1:00 AM on August 24, 2007
As I understand it, Paris Hilton's sentence was actually more severe than average for her offenses. So was Martha Stewart's. These women were made examples of because of their celebrity.
posted by Violet Hour at 1:50 AM on August 24, 2007
posted by Violet Hour at 1:50 AM on August 24, 2007
I hate to sound like I'm siding with these ladies but it doesn't have much to do with their celebrity. Yes, they got some special treatment -- especially Hilton's "escape" from jail on her stress issues and that kind of nonsense.
However, honestly the way the system works is pretty much that -- you're in and out. People don't get thrown in jail for extended periods of time for DUIs and cocaine. They just don't.
Yes, it's retarded, but there are no resources available to keep morons from being morons. You get busted for cocaine, you go to jail and wait for your stupid trial, the judge says some dumb crap and you do a quick bid and leave -- just like Paris.
If you keep it up, obviously the sentencing progressively gets worse (or better, depending on how you look at it).
If you want to complain about the system, that's fine and I support you, just don't pretend that it's some celebrity issue.
posted by travis vocino at 2:51 AM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
However, honestly the way the system works is pretty much that -- you're in and out. People don't get thrown in jail for extended periods of time for DUIs and cocaine. They just don't.
Yes, it's retarded, but there are no resources available to keep morons from being morons. You get busted for cocaine, you go to jail and wait for your stupid trial, the judge says some dumb crap and you do a quick bid and leave -- just like Paris.
If you keep it up, obviously the sentencing progressively gets worse (or better, depending on how you look at it).
If you want to complain about the system, that's fine and I support you, just don't pretend that it's some celebrity issue.
posted by travis vocino at 2:51 AM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
Travis...
I have to disagree. In my state, first offense DUI is 24 hours in jail plus fines. Second offense is 6 MONTHS in jail plus fines, and third offense is a YEAR IN PRISON and is a FELONY.
The bulk of people in our CJ system fit 3 categories:
DUI's (or DWI's)
Domestic Assaulters
Child Molesters
So yea, not going to chime in on the how's or the why's, but DUI and certainly Cocaine (Haven't seen anyone's coke conviction here be less than a year in a Loooooooong time) aren't necessarily regarded as throwaway crimes outside of big cities.
posted by TomMelee at 4:21 AM on August 24, 2007
I have to disagree. In my state, first offense DUI is 24 hours in jail plus fines. Second offense is 6 MONTHS in jail plus fines, and third offense is a YEAR IN PRISON and is a FELONY.
The bulk of people in our CJ system fit 3 categories:
DUI's (or DWI's)
Domestic Assaulters
Child Molesters
So yea, not going to chime in on the how's or the why's, but DUI and certainly Cocaine (Haven't seen anyone's coke conviction here be less than a year in a Loooooooong time) aren't necessarily regarded as throwaway crimes outside of big cities.
posted by TomMelee at 4:21 AM on August 24, 2007
Tom, does nobody ever cut a deal in the state you're in? In the state I'm familiar with (IANAL), the thrid DWI conviction was also a felony but it was usually the result of six-plus DWI arrests. Someone getting a year for simple possession would have been at least a mid-level dealer.
I agree that the DWI and drug laws are unfair, but the specific treatment of these women appears to be fair and equitable. I'm sure the same deals would be available to anyone else charged with the same crimes that has semi-competent representation.
posted by backupjesus at 5:39 AM on August 24, 2007
I agree that the DWI and drug laws are unfair, but the specific treatment of these women appears to be fair and equitable. I'm sure the same deals would be available to anyone else charged with the same crimes that has semi-competent representation.
posted by backupjesus at 5:39 AM on August 24, 2007
People without much personal experience of the criminal justice system think that if you get charged with a crime, it's likely that you will do jail time.
Celebrity or not, it is extremely unlikely that someone charged with a crime, who doesn't have an extensive criminal record, will get any jail time --- unless it's an extremely serious felony --- and if they do get jail time, it's usually minimal.
Example: If you have no criminal record, and you embezzled a few thousand dollars from your employer and were caught and prosecuted in state court, I would be shocked if you got jail time for it. You'd more typically get probation or some kind of diversion program that would allow for expungement of the record.
For minor offenses, even people with lengthy records of misdemeanors and low-level felonies are generally able to negotiate a fine or a brief incarceration (three days, seven days, etc.).
So, the celebrities who get let off with a hand-slap are actually receiving pretty typical treatment that all defendants can expect.
posted by jayder at 6:07 AM on August 24, 2007
Celebrity or not, it is extremely unlikely that someone charged with a crime, who doesn't have an extensive criminal record, will get any jail time --- unless it's an extremely serious felony --- and if they do get jail time, it's usually minimal.
Example: If you have no criminal record, and you embezzled a few thousand dollars from your employer and were caught and prosecuted in state court, I would be shocked if you got jail time for it. You'd more typically get probation or some kind of diversion program that would allow for expungement of the record.
For minor offenses, even people with lengthy records of misdemeanors and low-level felonies are generally able to negotiate a fine or a brief incarceration (three days, seven days, etc.).
So, the celebrities who get let off with a hand-slap are actually receiving pretty typical treatment that all defendants can expect.
posted by jayder at 6:07 AM on August 24, 2007
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posted by tehloki at 12:46 AM on August 24, 2007