Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery:
"Paris Hilton's simple life might soon become slightly more simple if she becomes an inmate in one of the area's several "pay-to-stay" city jails.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office announced it had sufficient evidence that Hilton violated the terms of her DUI probation. Prosecutors want her to serve at least 90 days in jail. A hearing for Hilton is scheduled April 17.
Fortunately for Hilton, 26, several local cities offer jail accommodations that might be considered a cut above the standard accommodations available in the Los Angeles County women's lockup."
Paper: San Gabriel Valley Tribune (West Covina, CA)
Title: Serving hard time the easy way
Date: April 8, 2007
Paris Hilton's simple life might soon become slightly more simple if she becomes an inmate in one of the area's several "pay-to-stay" city jails.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office announced it had sufficient evidence that Hilton violated the terms of her DUI probation. Prosecutors want her to serve at least 90 days in jail. A hearing for Hilton is scheduled April 17.
Fortunately for Hilton, 26, several local cities offer jail accommodations that might be considered a cut above the standard accommodations available in the Los Angeles County women's lockup.
In Pasadena for example, Hilton can spend $127 a night for three hot meals and a cot, and live in a dorm that's separate from the housing offered to inmates awaiting arraignment, or those sleeping it off in the drunk tank.
"We ask that our inmates pay in advance with a money order or cashier's check," Pasadena police Cmdr. John Perez said. "It's safe here. We won't take people with a history of violence or medical problems."
The appeal of a jail like Pasadena's comes from its size, Perez said.
"It's kind of like a hotel," he said. "This is just a more controlled environment."
Besides Pasadena, Montebello, Alhambra and La Verne offer "pay-to-stay" programs. Orange County, Seal Beach and Fullerton offer similar facilities. Fullerton's jail even allows inmates access to personal laptops and cell phones.
While the Pasadena and La Verne jails are city-run operations, the Montebello and Alhambra pay-to-stay facilities are run by Correctional System Inc., an Anaheim-based company.
Frank Mateljan, spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, said Hilton would have to file a request with the judge in her case if she wanted to choose to do time in a city jail instead of the county lockup.
"At that point, it would be up to the discretion of the judge," Mateljan said.
If Hilton is sentenced to jail time and chooses to stay in a pay facility, she won't be the first celebrity to take advantage of the special accommodations.
Actor Christian Slater served a 59-day sentence in La Verne in 1998. Former Orange County Assistant Sheriff George Jaramillo is currently serving a one-year sentence in Montebello after pleading no contest to felony charges of perjury and misuse of public funds.
Pasadena has had its share of celebrity inmates too, Perez said.
"In years past we've had some," Perez recalled. "Who was the last? I don't remember."
As for revenue the city might earn from the program, Perez said it isn't much of a money maker, but it does pay for itself.
Steve Lechuga, an employee of Correctional System Inc. and the supervisor for both the Alhambra and Montebello jails, said inmates are required to participate in menial chores like mopping, doing laundry, cleaning cells and taking out the trash.
But, there is also the opportunity to see visitors and take part in some recreation.
The Montebello jail has two cells devoted to its paying inmates. One cell houses 10 men; the other holds two. A night's stay costs $75, he said. Alhambra's jail has a similar layout, but also accommodates women inmates.
"It's all the same price," he said. "And what you get is all about the availability."
There are two classes of inmates who typically participate in pay-to-stay programs: Those serving terms of a year or less and those on work furlough, who can serve their sentences on the weekends while living at home and going to work during the week, Lechuga and Perez said.
Importantly, those who pay for their jail stays are separated from the general population.
"They are all separated from the regular arrestees off the street," Lechuga said. "But, they can still interact with each other."
Not everyone thinks pay-to-stay programs are just - or fair.
"Their whole purpose is to make a profit," said Ken Kopezynski, head of the Florida-based Private Corrections Institute, which opposes the establishment of private prisons and jails throughout the United States.
"These places sound too much like hotels," Kopezynski said. "This really smacks of some sort of checkbook justice. It's kind of like the Middle Ages - kind of like buying indulgences to earn your way into heaven."
frank.girardot@sgvn.com
