Paris Hilton's life just got about as simple as it gets.
Just hours after strolling the pink carpet at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards, the 26-year-old celebutante reported for jail late Sunday night, two days before the court-ordered deadline, according to her attorney and sheriff's officials.
"I've had a lot of time alone to think and reflect on my life and realize what's most importantshe told E! News on the red carpet of the MTV Movie Awards. "Even though this is a scary thing, I'm using it in a positive way. When I come out, I can't wait to start my new life and be even stronger than I am now." [See the interview.]
Hilton will be calling Lynwood's Century Regional Detention Facility home for the next 23 days—assuming she behaves herself—where she will be paying the piper for driving with a suspended license while on probation for alcohol-related reckless driving.
The "Stars Are Blind" singer was originally sentenced to 45 days behind bars, but due to California's chronically crowded county jail system and a statute that allows time off for good behavior, Hilton's time was halved almost from the get-go. She is tentatively slated to be released June 26.
"This is an important point in my life and I need to take responsibility for my actions. In the future, I plan on taking more of an active role in the decisions I make. I want to thank my family, friends and fans for their continued support. Although I am scared, I am ready to begin my jail sentence," Hilton added in a statement released by attorney Richard Hutton. [See Hilton's run-up to surrendering in our Paris Preps for Prison gallery.]
Hutton picked Hilton up at her parents' home after the MTV show and drove with his client, mom Kathy and sister Nicky to the downtown Los Angeles lockup. A source close to the family told E! Online that Paris was "visibly trembling and struggling to hold back tears" before heading off with her attorney.
"She never looked so terrified in all of her life," the source said.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, Hilton originally surrendered at Men's Central Jail about 11:15 p.m., presumably to avoid the media menagerie at Lynwood facility, where she was transported about 1 a.m.
A specially set up press area outside Century Regional was teeming with local, national and foreign news outlets, some of which set up shop a few days ago in preparation for Hilton's arrival. Ironically, the cordoned-off reporters added a bit of a paparazzi-behind-the-velvet-ropes-at-Hyde quality to the scene, especially considering the late hour.
Hilton "was cooperative during the [booking] process, which included being fingerprinted, photographed [and] medically screened," the sheriff's department statement said.
After receiving her booking number and wristband ID, Hilton exchanged her personal property for the standard-issue "orange top and pants, and personal hygiene items,'' the statement said.
While the judge who sentenced her and the prosecutors who pursued her case declared that Hilton's punishment proved that no one is above the law in Los Angeles, not even tabloid cover girls, the Simple Life star will be getting somewhat of a break when it comes to her accommodations.
She'll be doing time in Century's 12-cell special-needs housing unit, which only fits a maximum 24 inmates at a time. Moreover, the tabloid fixture will have the typical cell (12 feet deep by 8 feet wide with a ceiling height of 8 feet) to herself. She has her choice of two bunks to go along with the usual accoutrements of a table, a sink, a toilet and a small window.
Hilton can meet with her attorney and family during visiting hours, but is not allowed to give media interviews.
Century personnel have been warned not to take photos of Hilton in her jailhouse jumpsuit, even though photo agencies have stated the first images could fetch upward of $500,000.
She can spend one hour a day outside the cell to shower, use the telephone (but not her personal cell phone) and watch TV in a small pod adjacent to the cell.
It's no Hilton, but it's home.
With additional repoting by Tina Dirmann.