Celebrity Justice
August 19, 2010 by Andrea Bennett
Stories of famous people going to jail are some of America’s favorites, and it’s no surprise. Serving jail time means they really are just like us—or worse.
Likewise, nothing sparks quite as much outrage as when a celebrity doesn’t get disciplined as America thinks they should. Take Lindsay Lohan, the celebrity jailbird du jour, recently released from Lynwood Correctional Facility after serving just shy of two weeks of her 90-day sentence, for good behavior and to relieve prison overcrowding.
According to one report, it’s a long-standing policy of the LA County jail system to release nonviolent misdemeanor offenders early due to severe overcrowding. In fact, those incarcerated in California serve about 10 percent of their sentences on average because of overcrowding.
But that hasn’t stopped vocal celeb-watchers from hypothesizing that it’s fame—not overcrowding— that gets celebrities released early. Even while she served her time, one story notes, she wasn’t treated like other people in the facility. “She's not treated like if it was anyone else going to jail," Maria Medina, a relative of an inmate at Lohan's jail told People magazine. "Like, if they even want to bring her new clothes or bring her anything, they put the whole facility on lockdown. It happens all the time."
According to another report, penal institution staff are likely happy to get rid of high-profile prisoners sooner rather than later. OJ Simpson’s stay at the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail reportedly cost more than $230,000 for the first four months alone, since the ex-NFL star’s lawyers demanded items like sleeping pills and a special pillow, plus hours more time to walk outside his cell than other inmates.
Famous people might not be like you and me, but should prisons treat them like they are?
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12 Comments
What do you think? Leave a comment
September 10, 2010 by Hazel
I DON'T THINK, JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS BECOME FAMOUS,SHOULD BE TREATED ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER PRISON.JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE MONEY,SHOULDN'T MATTER ONE BIT.NO SPECIAL TREATMENT AND NO EXTRA FEES JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE BIG MONEY
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November 12, 2010 by Cindy Brown
I actually have a son in prison. He is 23 years old and he don't get any special treatment. Yes he did wrong, his theary is if you do the crime you should pay the time. He isn't no murder, he don't sell drugs, he did forge checks to a family member. I get so annoyed when I read that Lohn gets special treatment. Seriously she has a d.u.i which could of killed someone if not several. Paris Hilton really that her friend used her purse and must have left the drugs in the purse. Is that like i didn't not in hale when smoking pot??? Come on!! I am furious about all the special treatment that they get, the law is the law and there should not be any special treatment.
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September 19, 2011 by LORIE
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HELL NO. THEY SHOULD SERVE TIME LIKE A REAL PERSON WOULD HAVE TOO, THAN MAYBE N HOLLYWOOD THESE FOOLS WOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE DOING SOMETHING STUPID.
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September 17, 2010 by Carol
Celebs are always in the spotlight, because that is part of the price to pay for the career "they" chose. Some are also "role" models for young children & even adults. In exchange for the "GOOD" life they should have to be mor responsible than the ordinary person. They want their face on the silver screen, act accordingly. Many of us would gladly act properly in exchange for the MEGA pay check.
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October 16, 2010 by Dave
Celebrities are always given too many chances---they need to lose their sense of entitlement. I have a question about OJ--did the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail actually give into OJ's demands? He should have been treated just like any other prisoner, so they really have no reason to complain about the cost of incarcerating him!
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November 1, 2010 by lisa billotte
i dont think celebs should get special treatment as well. if everyday people did half te stuff they did. we would be punished as well. the law goes for everyone. not just some of us. my husband done nothing wrong and he is serving 6 to 12 years plus classes after he gets out and the rest of his life on megans law. now come on....
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November 7, 2010 by Jon
The law clearly states that no one is exempt from the law, no matter who they are, if you do the crime, you do the time, period. and with no special treatment.
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December 13, 2010 by Amy Castles
I agree with everyone else...why should celeberties get special treatment?? Take Paris Hilton for instance she gets caught with dope and gets a free ride that is a bunch of crap. Or Lohan just because she is "scared" she gets her own cell and for her pretection she gets to do whatever the heck she wants yeah its a great justice system we have huh???
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January 12, 2011 by larry dunn
Happens all the time. Politicians who commit crimes are rarely charged[ Charles Wrangler, Bill Clinton,Richard Nixon to name a couple]. Movie stars ( Jane Fonda treason and many others of the same stripe. Shoot a president and rot in jail forever. For some reason that escapes me every day in this country people with multiple felon arrests are released on society to wreak hell . If you have plenty of money, you can get away double murder ( O J). Fact is, there is a class of people in the US with money, fame and connections who can get away with nearly any crime great or small. When this class of people do time they almost always get better treatment than the common rif raf. Why will President Obama not let the American people see his birth certificate? Could it be he is not american but african? Show the paper and end the uncertainy May be the american people will trust you a bit more. The truth will set you free.
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March 30, 2011 by ebd
first and formost I don't consider any one as a celebrity, everybody are human beings. it's that some of us have a little bit more moeny than others so what, those with a lot of money are just as ghetto as they want to be, there bitter, they have no spirituality, no love, no self respect and they are always on the news in the spotlight. For those so called celebrities, who are in denial, Guess, what, we are all going out the same way we came in, whether we have money, or not, barefeeted and empty handed. They can only enjoy the material ilusions while in the physical body.
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April 12, 2011 by its me yall
if u do the time u have 2 pay the crime whoevever the law is the law!!
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April 12, 2011 by its me yall
my bad i met 2 say if u do the crime u have 2 pay the time the law is the law
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