The underreported back story: LA County Jail

[pinto]

Sheriff Bacca made some great points about the role the LA County jail finds itself having to fulfill, in the absence of adequate mental health facilities in LA, and by extrapolation California.

Our state's jails have become the 'treatment of opportunity' for our mentally ill. And in doing so, they have become overwhelmed. Incarceration's not treatment. The Sheriff knows that. He said as much.

He also made note of the federal order to reduce overcrowding in the tinderbox he has to manage on a day to day basis. Non violent female offenders are routinely released in that framework.

While the media and the public does the zoom on a celebrity inmate, LA County Jail goes on, day in and out. Sheriff Bacca made his point very well, imo.

[napi21]

1. I don't disagree with the sheriff. I'm sure he does have those problems.

That does not have any relation to the Paris sotry though. She is in isolation BECAUSE she didn't want to be mixed with the general population. Good move on her part though. IMO, Paris is simply behaving like a very young spoiled child, allbeit she's NOT that young, who was raised to believe that no matter what happened or what she did, mommy or daddy would find a way to get her out of trouble.

I suspect she never even HEARD of a bologna sandwich until one was brought to her in jail for lunch! Is she suffering mental trauma? Probably. Can she get over it while serving her time? Probably.

She IS getting special treatment by the sheriff. Do you honestly think if you or I were sentenced to the same jail, WE could ask for or demand isolation and GET IT? Hmmmm, probably not.

Is it a PIA being ther because it's noisy, too bright to sleep, lonely, and has crappy food? YEP!

But as I've been tild many times, lifes a bitch and then you die!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

2. She's Not Getting Special Treatment.

She's a celebrity, and requires PC (protective custody) just as cops would or certain others. Even if she didn't request it, they might've put her in there anyway. Some inmates love making names for themselves and paris would've been an easy target for them. In cases such as that, PC is the only way to go to ensure a certain level of safety. You couldn't get PC because you'd have no justification for it. But it's not special treatment, it's common sense.

And furthermore, you are acting as if being in PC is a good thing for her. Let me assure you that being in an 8x12 cell being only allowed out for one hour a day is worse than being in general population by a long shot. Trust me when I tell you that.

[pinto]

3. My point. The bigger story is the LA County Jail. Not the inmate.

The Sheriff has an inferno to try to manage.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. No, she's is in isolation because that is the only place where she

can be safe. If any of us were dropped into the general population, they'd pay us no attention because we are nobody. Drop her in general population and she will attract the crazies like a magnet. Think about it. Some addict with borderline personality disorder (you know, the people who are the institutionalized mentally ill that the sheriff was talking about?) walks up to her and says "Yahr war wah ha!" and she looks at her, bats her big blue eyes and says "What?" - and gets her face ripped off. The crazies think they know her because they see her on TV every day, and she's never dealt with crazies herself.

Only isolation can protect her, but isolation does not mean a private cell with a big screen TV and specially prepared meals. Isolation is where the most dangerous criminals go to protect the other inmates from them, or where snitches go to keep them safe. BTW, keeping prisoners in isolation is considered torture and is against the Geneva Conventions - if she was a POW, it would be illegal.

[aquart]

6. Except a torture victim has no idea when it will end. Paris does.

But thank you for your concern.

[napi21]

10. I realize she is in PC for her own safety, and that not only the crazies

but every other strong willed or agressive inmate would take advantage of her, and yes that makes sense...not that much else in this world makes sense! I guess I think she's getting special treatment BECAUSE she's a celebrity. If I was guilty of the very same crimes as Paris, I'd be every bit as scared, lonely, and frustrated as she is, but do you really think I would be allowed to just go home and server my time with an anckle bracelet?

Let me tell you something. 20 years ago I was arrested for DUI. I was taken to the local jail, fingerprinted and put in the cell. I was scared, totally alone because I was in a new strange city where I didn't know anyone, it was noisy, the other inmates were cussing and swearing and arguing all night, and the "bed" was stainless steel with a small blanket to use as you wished. It was the worst night of my life! But you know what? I didn't cry for my mommy. I sat on the "bed" and talked to myself...asking how damn stupid can you be, and you're an idiot for getting yourself into this mess! I was supposed to be released by 7AM, but when it got to 11AM and noone appeared, I started asking for the watch commander. Finally I was taken to an ATM to get the fine of $350 in cash and was released.

Don't tell me how nasty it can be, I already know that! Paris did worse than I did because SHE deliberately violated her parole. I have NO sympathy for her. It's a very nasty place, and it probably IS affecting her more than me because I never lived the lifestyle she has, but she deserves what she got the same as I did.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. Well, yes, as a non-violent female offender if you could pay the

cost of the home-monitoring system you would be released to house arrest - the sheriff made it pretty clear that that is standard operating procedure. The jail is overcrowded, and they need the room for serious offenders - by federal mandate.

And your scary night in jail, nobody knew you and nobody targetted you because of you being you - with Hilton, that's not the case. They are going to have to keep her in isolation to keep her safe, or double the watch if she's left in the general population, and even at that somebody is going try to take a chunk of her. She faces dangers that you would never face, just because of who she is - now THAT is special treatment. It is not just a matter of being scared and frustrated - it is the serious risk of physical injury. That goes way beyond what the judge mandated in his sentence.

[aquart]

5. So he violated a judge's specific order to make a PR point?

There were no alternatives to that sentence. He spelled it out: no bracelets, nothing but serving time IN JAIL.

But it's nice that the sheriff took the time to use Paris for publicity for his personal cause. THAT she did not deserve.

[Dogmudgeon]

7. The judge has his own personal cause

To be the alpha bureaucrat to lay the smackdown on the bee-yotch whom all America loves to hate.

With handwritten orders on the remand form, no less. In big capital block letters. Especially for Paris Hilton, and no one else.

Yes, Paris is getting VERY special treatment.

Lindsey -- watch your ass, girl, for you are next public celebrity to fuel some hack LA judge's case of Itoism.

--p!
No special privileges, no special punishments.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. What do you mean, a PR point?

As the sheriff said, and the OP pointed out, early release to house arrest, particularly for those who can pay the cost of it, is common for female, non-violent offenders, to make room in a jail that is regularly 20-30% over capacity. For a judge to step in and demand special handling is VERY unusual, which goes to the point that she is being singled out because of who she is. I heard some expert on TV tonite say the common punishment for probation violation is trash patrol in orange jump suits, usually performed on weekends, not 40 days in solitary confinement.

[zalinda]

9. I have to admit, I really haven't followed this story

except by accident.

"She pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced to 36 months' probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines. In the months that followed she was stopped twice while driving on a suspended license. The second stop landed her in Sauer's courtroom." And the link, of course.
http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20070609/D8PL361G0.html

She apparently thought that the law didn't apply to her, or that her parents would get her off. She thumbed her nose at the law, and got caught. The judge wanted her to learn a lesson, a lesson that could very well save her life, if she heeds it. Sitting in an 8x10 cell may not be a picnic, but it's not going to kill her either. And maybe if she has to sit and listen to her thoughts, she might do something productive with her life.........hey, miracles could happen.

As for the sheriff, I can understand his plight, but he went against a judge's order. It was not up to him to put her under mansion arrest. There's a rumor that she was going to have a party tonight. Some one reported that there was a truck with party supplies in front of her "house". Man it's like punishing your kid, by making him stay in his room, when he has video games, a computer and TV in there.

zalinda

[magellan]

11. The paparazzi knew there was to be a party tonight

The truck pulled up, filled with carefully boxed china and stemware, while the press gang was waiting outside the house for the Sheriff's car to arrive. NBC's local L.A. guy remarked on the truck's signage, that it was "party"-something or other. The paparazzi standing next to him said there was to be a party there tonight, that it was all over their message boards. Later it came out that it was supposed to be a "released from jail" party thrown by her mom.

I subjected myself to watching this fiasco out of morbid fascination...and that was all I needed to hear to decide that the princess belongs in jail. If she's well enough to enjoy a "released from jail" party, she's well enough to do her time IN jail.

[leftofthedial]

13. he has to make his point well

to keep his own ass out of his own jail for contempt

[EFerrari]

14. Law enforcement is in the same position as our families are.

They have to deal with problems the culture has bailed on.

And L.A. County Jail is the biggest provider of mental health "services" IN THE WORLD.

They do a terrible job. And they have to do it every day.