In an interview with People magazine, Paris Hilton explains the medical condition that led to her house arrest. She says:
"I was basically in the fetal position, basically in hysterics. The doctors were observing me while I was there. They explained to Sheriff [Lee] Baca that they thought I was having severe anxiety, panic attacks, claustrophobia."
And on people who doubt that she'll change after her jail experience, she says:
"They're wrong and they don't know me. I'm a good person. I'm a compassionate person. I have a big heart. I'm sincere, and they'll see."
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca is saying Paris was about to die and that he was trying to save her life by letting her out of jail. He says:
"Our doctors said we had no solution to Hilton's medical problems. None. As a sheriff in this county, I'm not going to let any inmate die in this jail. What's worth more: a person spending time in a county jail for driving on a suspended license or a person losing her life? She was at a place where we couldn't fix whatever that medical problem was with the resources we have. We knew this problem was not going to get better. We were placed in a very unusual and awkward position with Ms. Hilton. ... Everyone who goes in to serve county jail time is early released. If Ms. Hilton got preferential treatment, it's that she spent more time in the county jail than the average inmate."
Because a lot of people die every year from claustrophobia. I think last year it was almost one. How is this guy an actual Los Angeles County Sheriff? He sounds like he should be chasing around cartoon bears for a living.