The Paris Situation

So I've been watching the coverage of Paris Hilton's jail debacle. And that's exactly what it is, a debacle. Almost every media outlet that I've watched, read, or listened to in this fiasco has acted really disgusted with Paris Hilton and the way that she is depicted in the media.

Here's the thing that really makes me sick, though. Paris Hilton's celebrity status is a media creation. She is well-known because she's a pretty girl that the newspapers and internet gossip columns decided to cover because she is rich and famous and it will sell papers. Whether cameras followed her or not, she would still be going to clubs, still drinking, and perhaps even still making irresponsible choices. The girl is in her mid-20's and is doing things typically associated with young girls. Going out with friends, shopping, drinking, clubbing, etc. The fact that she has money allows her to do all of those things on a much larger scale.

The media has created someone that they can follow, and are then bemoaning the fact that her celebrity status is based on no merit. Well, in my opinion, you can't follow someone around and photograph them at every opportunity you get, and THEN have the audacity to tell me that you are sick of Paris Hilton coverage because she does nothing worthy of covering. You either make the choice to have journalistic integrity and cover actual "news" stories, or you become Fox News or MSNBC or CNN and cover whatever is going to sell. But don't expect me to respect you as a legitimate news source when you're telling me how talentless Paris is in one breath and telling your reporters to get the best shot of Paris being loaded into the Sheriff's car in the other. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Watching this coverage of Paris' probation violation and incarceration and reassignment to house arrest left me feeling really sad for this girl. And for the state of our media. She violated her probation and was sentenced to 45 days in prison. Fine, she accepted responsibility for her actions and was going to jail, saying she was nervous but would blame only herself. Her sentence was lessened, as almost every sentence is in our court system, to 23 days. She served five days, and after a medical assessment, it was decided by the Sheriff that she would be reassigned to house arrest for the remainder of the initial sentence. With time served, she would have to be under house arrest with an ankle monitor for 40 days. No sooner is she returned to her house and fitted with the bracelet then the judge freaks out that the Sheriff has changed his sentence and orders Paris to return to court. Hundreds of paparazzi descend on the Hilton home, dangerously close to the road and passing traffic. Paris is handcuffed, and returns to court in a squad car.

The argument now becomes a pissing contest over jurisdiction. The judge specifically said in his sentencing that electronic monitoring was not an option. The Sheriff, then taking Paris into his care AND jurisdiction, decided after talking to medical professionals that Paris would best serve her sentence under continuing supervision of the Sheriff's department under house arrest. Paris was NOT released from prison, she was reassigned. It is a decision that the Sheriff is allowed to make. The judge is out to prove a point that celebrities are not above the law. But isn't making someone return to jail after the person who is in charge of her has reassigned her circumnavigating the law? Isn't it treating someone with MORE severity than another person? Most people convicted of alcohol-related probation violation (all low-level offenders) serve no more than 5 days, or 10% of their sentence in the facility to which Paris was remanded. Is the judge trying to prove a point with the Hilton case, and if so, what makes that fair to this girl?

I do not think Paris Hilton should be returned to jail. I do not think she was treated preferentially and I do not think a judge has the right to take away a Sheriff's legal right to treat the prisoners in his jurisdiction as he sees fit.

The entire thing is disgusting, but perhaps the most sickening part of all of it is the media's addiction to celebrity news, combined with the duality of telling people how terrible Paris Hilton is. I guess the best way to bring people together is to give them a common enemy. Perhaps now that I think about it that way, maybe it makes a bit more sense to me. Build up Paris' image through constant and unending media coverage, then try on every program you have to destroy her. After all, it sells magazines, doesn't it?

UPDATE: Paris has been remanded to the Detention Facility to serve the full 45 day sentence, with appropriate credit. She has to serve 45 days, even though 23 was what everyone had agreed she would serve when she entered. Paris did not misbehave while incarcerated, and it was my understanding that the only determination that could be made about a reduction/increase of a prisoner's sentence while incarcerated had to be made with consideration to the prisoner's behavior exclusively. Paris was described by the prison staff as "polite" and "courteous" and "respectful". How has it now happened that she must serve the full 45 and not the compromised 23? Is it because the Sheriff reassigned her to house arrest? That's not Paris' fault. Was she expected to tell the Sheriff "No, sir, I think I'd actually better stay here because that's what the judge said."? It is disgusting to me that a judge with an axe to grind is now punishing someone even more harshly because of the media attention the case has garnered and because his authority was threatened by a Sheriff. That's not justice. It's revenge. And that sickens me.