LOS ANGELES - Reality television star Nicole Richie checked into prison on Thursday to serve a four-day jail sentence -- and was released after a less-than-harrowing 82 minutes, officials said.
Richie, who is pregnant with rocker boyfriend Joel Madden's child, had been due to emulate "Simple Life" co-star and friend Paris Hilton by serving a stint behind bars at Los Angeles' Century Regional Detention Facility.
But after arriving at 3:15 pm Richie was freed at 4:37 pm under the local sheriff's early release guidelines.
A sheriff's department statement said Richie's release was standard procedure.
"At this time, the criteria for a female arrestee sentenced to 30 days or less for a non-violent offense is as follows: the arrestee is booked, screened and usually released within 12 hours," sheriff's sergeant John Hocking said.
"This procedure is based on jail overcrowding to manage population levels mandated by federal court guidelines.
"Based on the mandated guidelines and Miss Richie's 96-hours sentence, she will be treated in the same manner as other inmates with a similar sentence."
Richie was handed the sentence at a court hearing last month where the 25-year-old daughter of soul singer Lionel Richie was also fined 2,048 dollars and placed on probation for three years. She was also ordered to attend a drug and alcohol education program.
The waif-like celebrity was arrested on December 11 after police received reports of a car travelling the wrong way down a busy Los Angeles freeway.
She failed a roadside sobriety test and allegedly told officers she had taken the painkiller Vicodin and smoked marijuana.
She was later charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and an unspecified drug.
Richie's co-star Hilton served 23 days in jail in June for violating probation by driving with a suspended license.
08/24/2007 01:24 GMT