Did Paris Hilton receive too much time?

Question

First off, let me state that I by no means am a fan of Paris Hilton. Nor do I think celebrities should get slaps on the wrist.

But I also don't think celebrities should receive harsher punishments for crimes that the average person would get.

Some media pundit on the news stated that most people would do about 2 days in jail for the crime Paris did, and then a month or so of house arrest. I can't help but think the judge was caught up in her celebrity and status, instead of just looking at the offense itself, and treating it like he would treat any other similar case.

A judge is supposed to be neutral, and go by the law and the books, and not get caught up in someone's celebrity status or personal life. That's none of his business as a judge in a court of law.

Can someone who knows a little about the law explain if Hilton did or did not get the typical amount of time for this offense?

joanby: I have to interject about what you said about her lawyers "not appealing" the judge's ruling. Everything I've heard and read so far suggests that the lawyers WILL be appealing the ruling. That's almost a given.

Answer 1

In Florida for her second offense she would have gotten 6 months to a year. Her third time would have been even more severe. But, no she would not have gotten stopped the third time in Florida, she would have been in JAIL. What if she had killed your child while driving drunk with a suspended license?

Answer 2

First of all, don't you think that if Paris Hilton and her lawyers had a case that they would be filling for an appeal? Of course they would. Money is not an issue for them and Paris would be able to go free during the appeals process. But they are not filling an appeal, which makes me think they don't have a legal leg to stand on. Actions speak louder than words.

I promise you this...if you had your license taken away due to a DUI and then got stopped twice by police officers, you would go to jail too.

In some states, the penalties for driving on a suspended license are far stricter than other states. California happens to have very strict penalties. California has very tough laws in general, being a 3-strikes state.

BTW...most of the people who are saying that most paris is recieving too harsh of a sentance is her family. Many people in jails are sick. They don't get to go home, they get taken to the hospital accompanied by the police and then taken back to jail. So what if she is emotionally distraught? You think there is a single half-way sane person in jail who is not distraught over the fact? Of course there's not.

I personally think that mommy paid the sheriff to let her out, something he doesn't have the authority to do. Why else would she be calling to her mom? Because she thinks mommy can buy her freedom again.

Let me tell you this, a judge is a god in his courtroom. If Paris hadn't been a little brat, she would have served her 23 days and been 1/3 of the way through it by now. Now she and the sheriff who let her out has incurred the wrath of the judge. If anyone of us had done that we would have the book thrown in our face too, side-stepping a court ruling isn't something you should ever do, you are only going to piss off the judge and that only means more punishment for you? Is it fair? Maybe not, but if you are arguing to a judge saying that you are not a bad person, etc, etc, and then he lets you a bit off the hook and you embarass him like that? All of us would be in deep doo-doo. In other words, he is singaling her out, not because she is famous, but because she spit on his ruling.

That sheriff should be thrown in jail for contempt, Paris should go to jail for the maximum allotted by law and mommy and daddy hilton should be investigated for bribery. Unspecified medical problem my butt...it's all about the money honey.

Answer 3

Paris did not get too much time, actually, she got a light sentence. I have a friend who was caught driving while drunk/impaired 4 times, Paris i believe was caught 3 times, my friend received 4 months in jail and lost his driving license for a year. Paris was sentenced to 40 days in jail and will only have to serve 23 I believe it is. I do not think Paris got a harsh sentence. There was a billboard in my town, Buffalo, NY and it said "wow, Paris Hilton was in jail for 4 days."

Answer 4

I don't not like her. I mean I never meet her to say she's not a nice person. Yeah she might need help with to some of use seem stupid like dialing from a pay phone. But still. She might was raised spoiled but it's not her fault...she might have not of gotten the the best schooling...it's not her fault.
We don't know what she's really like. She might even be scared of the dark ergh like Lizzie McGuiar reruns!


But what she did was 100% wrong. She has no way to make it seem right. My dad works with some part of the goverment and what I heard is she should acctual get MORE tiiime. I agree. I don't hate her. I don't know her. But I think she should get more time. But then once it's done move on because it was ONE mistake (thatw as reallllly bad)

Answer 5

I definitely think Paris' sentence is fair. Lindsay, Nicole, Paris, they ALL need to learn. I read a quote from Nicole Richie saying that now she is scared she might get jail time. And she should be. It is unfair that these girls are getting away with DUIs and speeding and possession and underage drinking and DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD(how that happened, ill never know, lol). It's getting ridiculous. Until they learn that they will be punished, they'll keep doing it.

Also, they brought down her DUI to a reckless driving charge.

Answer 6

My feeling is that if it were you or I in her situation, we would have gotten a lot more time. So NO her time is no where near what it should be. And all this hype over a medical condition is just the rich princess' way of getting out and living in luxury while serving her sentence.

Answer 7

It seems she's being punished for the decisions the sheriff made that let her go. I'm not a fan either but I don't think she should get more than the original sentence.

Answer 8

She got less than many. A broadcaster on Fox sports was in jail for the same thing for over 60 days, as was one of his friends! 23 days is not much time!

The issue with the court I suspect is Paris was convicted of Driving to Endanger while intoxicated. She did not got to jail, she was put on probation!

Subsequently, Paris was caught driving under revocation 2 times. The 2nd time was like thumbing her nose at the law as she was on probation. She was let go the 1st time.

Look, this woman can hire anyone to drive her around. She sure can afford it, but no, not Paris! She thinks she can do whatever she wanted to do and laws mean nothing. Well, maybe they do to her now!

You can get up to a year in jail for driving after revocation in my state the 1st time! And that has nothing to do with probation!

This is our law

IV. Any person who violates this section by driving a motor vehicle in this state during the period of suspension or revocation of his or her license or driving privilege for a violation of RSA 265:79 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who violates this section by driving a motor vehicle or by operating an OHRV or snowmobile in this state during the period of suspension or revocation of his or her license or driving privilege for a violation of RSA 215-A:11, RSA 215-C:11, RSA 265:82, RSA 265:82-a, or RSA 630:3, II shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a period not less than 7 consecutive 24-hour periods to be served within 6 months of the conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000, and shall have his or her license or privilege revoked for an additional year. No portion of the minimum mandatory sentence of imprisonment shall be suspended by the court. No case brought to enforce this paragraph shall be continued for sentencing for longer than 35 days. No person serving the minimum mandatory sentence under this paragraph shall be discharged pursuant to authority granted under RSA 651:18, released pursuant to authority granted under RSA 651:19, or in any manner, except as provided in RSA 623:1, prevented from serving the full amount of such minimum mandatory sentence under any authority granted by title LXII or any other provision of law

Answer 9

Someone on FOX said that they searched and could find NO ONE who has ever done 45 days in jail for the same offense.

Answer 10

I agree with you. A normal person might have spent a week at most in jail.