The recent early release of Paris Hilton from jail owing to an unspecified “medical condition” has raised questions over the criteria that let the prisoners go free. Is an established model being followed to take decisions?
ABC News spoke with several legal experts and explored their views. Letting a prisoner out of jail because of an illness is rare, and is normally applicable to those with severe illnesses that demanded special or some extent of personalized treatment,
Jodi Kent of the American Civil Liberties Union spent three years monitoring Los Angeles jails. “The only time I’d ever seen somebody released for a medical reason was if they were being released as a ‘compassionate release’ — in other words, they’re about to die,” she said. “It’s extremely bizarre.”
Experienced criminal defense lawyers complained that they’ve often confronted trouble getting early release for their clients based on medical illness. One lawyer cited her case where was unable to get her client out even if he was suffering a serious staph infection.
However, when it comes to Paris, could things have been different? Some experts said that Hilton’s fame may have worked against her. Many agree Sentencing Paris to jail for an extended period of time was an example of a celebrity being treated more harshly than an average person.
That she was given special consideration and treatment was apparent at almost every step of the process.
George Lindemann Jr, a prolific blogger, writer and photographer, quoted TMZ’s sources to say a “written protocol” had already been prepared especially for Paris’ stay, detailing “when and how things should be done for her.”
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