Paris if a free woman again...

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by hi_im_god

there are inmates in l.a. county jails with aids, cancer, and serious heart conditions. none of them get released on medical need.

open heart surgery and kidney transplants get you out.

the judge, when he sentenced her, specifically ruled out serving the sentence at home. the sheriff department ignored that. they also ignored their own well established practice in dealing with requests for early medical release.

the appearence of special treatment seems unavoidable.

OK, some fair points:
1) I doubt there are many inmates in the system with such serious conditions serving 23-45 days for a PV. Also, psychiatric issues are handled differently than physical ones...while AIDS, heart issues, and cancer can certainly kill, they are easier to handle in an institutional setting. If a person is deemed to be at risk for SI or a psychotic break, they are often transported to a hospital and housed in a psych ward, larger facilities may have their own psych ward (I don't know if this one does) but it is labor-intensive and extremely costly...specially trained staff and 1:1 supervision. For those reasons, the prison administration is likely to seek alternatives. Also, should something happen (suicide attempt, psychotic break) the "blame game" would be off the chart. Again..while I certainly believe that Paris is responsible for her actions, on balance, if I were the Warden, I'd opt for a house arrest scenerio rather than risk severe injury to this young woman.
2) I don't know the specifics of Cal law but in many states, the correctional system and/or Sheriff takes control of inmates regarding issues such as early release, good time and medical issues. In any event, if the judge has issues with the Sheriff or other officials, why take it out on Ms Hilton? Marked squad car in handcuffs, completely ignoring whatever medical condition may exist. If he was all about fairness and justice, why not get with the Sheriff and Warden and find out why their decision was made and evaluate the facts BEFORE creating this public spectacle? If, as reported, a board certified psychiatrist diagnosed her as depressed and on the edge of a psychotic break, I'd think he'd want to know that BEFORE sending her back!

[hi_im_god]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

OK, some fair points:
1) I doubt there are many inmates in the system with such serious conditions serving 23-45 days for a PV. Also, psychiatric issues are handled differently than physical ones...while AIDS, heart issues, and cancer can certainly kill, they are easier to handle in an institutional setting. If a person is deemed to be at risk for SI or a psychotic break, they are often transported to a hospital and housed in a psych ward, larger facilities may have their own psych ward (I don't know if this one does) but it is labor-intensive and extremely costly...specially trained staff and 1:1 supervision. For those reasons, the prison administration is likely to seek alternatives. Also, should something happen (suicide attempt, psychotic break) the "blame game" would be off the chart. Again..while I certainly believe that Paris is responsible for her actions, on balance, if I were the Warden, I'd opt for a house arrest scenerio rather than risk severe injury to this young woman.
2) I don't know the specifics of Cal law but in many states, the correctional system and/or Sheriff takes control of inmates regarding issues such as early release, good time and medical issues. In any event, if the judge has issues with the Sheriff or other officials, why take it out on Ms Hilton? Marked squad car in handcuffs, completely ignoring whatever medical condition may exist. If he was all about fairness and justice, why not get with the Sheriff and Warden and find out why their decision was made and evaluate the facts BEFORE creating this public spectacle? If, as reported, a board certified psychiatrist diagnosed her as depressed and on the edge of a psychotic break, I'd think he'd want to know that BEFORE sending her back!

the judge acted specifically because the sheriffs department and defense attorneys provided no information supporting the alleged medical condition to him before her release as is required with other inmates.

he doesn't need to ask. the sheriff department is suppossed to provide the supports as to why they are violating a court order.

clinical depression is not a diagnosis that gets you out of l.a. county jail in most circumstances.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by hi_im_god

the judge acted specifically because the sheriffs department and defense attorneys provided no information supporting the alleged medical condition to him before her release as is required with other inmates.

he doesn't need to ask. the sheriff department is suppossed to provide the supports as to why they are violating a court order.

clinical depression is not a diagnosis that gets you out of l.a. county jail in most circumstances.

Actually, the Defense wasn't given the opportunity to discuss her condition according to reporters in the hearing so it falls to the Sheriff and my position/question remains! Clinical depression is different from SI...don't know if she verbalized SI but if so then that's a different ball game. Psychosis is also a different matter! It may fall on the Sheriff but I expect a judge to be concerned with fairness not some powerplay!

[hi_im_god]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Actually, the Defense wasn't given the opportunity to discuss her condition according to reporters in the hearing so it falls to the Sheriff and my position/question remains! Clinical depression is different from SI...don't know if she verbalized SI but if so then that's a different ball game. Psychosis is also a different matter! It may fall on the Sheriff but I expect a judge to be concerned with fairness not some powerplay!

she's too narcissitic to kill herself.

that's strictly my opinion. i have no professional degree that makes it any more valid than your's but...c'mon for christ's sake.

i also think it's laughable to suggest a psychotic break is in the wings. she seemed okay a few days ago when she attended the mtv awards show.

i'd buy clinical depression. i think she's finally having to deal with some things she doesn't want to.

but again, according to defense attorneys quoted in the l.a. times today, that is never sufficent for an early release.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by hi_im_god

she's too narcissitic to kill herself.

that's strictly my opinion. i have no professional degree that makes it any more valid than your's but...c'mon for christ's sake.

i also think it's laughable to suggest a psychotic break is in the wings. she seemed okay a few days ago when she attended the mtv awards show.

i'd buy clinical depression. i think she's finally having to deal with some things she doesn't want to.

but again, according to defense attorneys quoted in the l.a. times today, that is never sufficent for an early release.

Well, I do have a MS in Psychology and 35 years experience in mental health but I don't pretend to know how she is doing, only that the symptomology is understandable given the circumstances...extreme emotional trauma often leads to acute depression, SI and psychotic presentations. There is nothing laughable about psychosis and why do you think that narcissitic personalities aren't subject to depression and SI? Still...the most obvious thing to me is that the authorities made a decision and sent her home, the judge could have obtained the facts behind said decision...he could have ordered that they present him with same, but instead...he ordered this young woman brought to him publically in handcuffs and sent her back to prison without ANY consideration of the reasons for the decision to release her! This isn't justice...this isn't fairness, this is a "pissing contest" with her stuck in the middle!

[ninetoone]

This is the best possible thing that could have happenned to her, and I'll bet she'll confirm this herself one day in the not so distant future. At that point, anyone who was defending her will be scratching their heads & still won't admit they were wrong.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by ninetoone

This is the best possible thing that could have happenned to her, and I'll bet she'll confirm this herself one day in the not so distant future. At that point, anyone who was defending her will be scratching their heads & still won't admit they were wrong.

You just don't get it do you? It isn't about Paris Hilton, it's about justice and fairness. Forget it's her, how would you feel if it was your daughter, mom, sister or friend...I'm thinking this will be overturned on appeal, the judge has probably overstepped his authority here. In any event, she'll probably be out on bail Monday. Will she probably get a book out of this? Little doubt. Might she use this to rehab her image? Possibly! None of which speaks to the point...I'm the one who always decries the failures of the legal system when poor folks go to jail and rich folks skate, I'd be the world's biggest hypocrite if I didn't denounce this obvious judicial ego trip using a wealthy well-known young lady as a political pawn!