Paris Hilton is scheduled to arrive at jail sometime between now and Tuesday to serve her sentence for violating her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.She's apologized and dropped any ideas for an appeal. But that won't erase the inevitable culture shock she's about to experience.
The professional celebrity, who has walked plenty of red carpets, will stroll down a concrete walkway into a Los Angeles county jail. There, she will be stripped, searched, issued a jumpsuit and locked in a cell.
Dining will be a little different for the champagne convict.
"In the morning, she'll have cold cereal, hard-boiled egg, some juice perhaps and a fruit," said Steve Whitmore of the L.A. County Sherriff's Department. "At lunch time, a sandwich of some kind, chips and a juice drink."
Normal privileges for any prisoner include a daily shower, weekend visitors and pay phone access only. No cell phones or blackberries are allowed.
It is possible that Hilton will get a single cell for her safety, but Harvey Levin of the Web site TMZ says the jail has already picked Hilton's roommate.
"She is on a reckless driving violation, similar to Paris, and they believe she is a person who would not spill her guts to the tabloids and embarrass law enforcement," he said.
The jail has cordoned off the walkway for Hilton's arrival and restricted parking in anticipation of the crush of reporters and photographers.
Hilton has kept a low profile in recent weeks. She's even been seen going to lunch with her mother and walking with a Bible in hand.
With only a high school education, she's about to enter the school of hard knocks.
"She is not only a girl of privilege, she is a celebrity of privilege," said David Patrick Columbia, of NewYorkSocialDairy.com "So she's always pretty much gotten a free ride, and open door, and red carpet, for herself. This will end when she goes into that cell."
Jailers will be guarding Hilton against the possibility of attack in jail and assault by snapshot.
"I am telling you that if somebody snuck a camera in, got a picture of her in jail, wearing her jail garb, it would go for seven figures," Levin said.