Paris released from jail

Paris Hilton has not only had her sentence cut short, she is already out of jail! Sources tell us the deal was sealed yesterday, and that Hilton made her exit early this morning. She was originally sentenced to 45 days in jail, but that was reduced to 23. She served a total of five days - the normal stay for a violation of this kind. Her five days began Sunday night and concluded early Thursday morning.

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department will hold a news conference in an hour to discuss what went down.

UPDATE: LA County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore says that Paris Hilton has been fitted for an ankle bracelet and put under house arrest for the next 40 days, after authorities decided to release Paris from jail due to medical reasons.

Whitmore says he cannot release details about Paris' "medical issue" due to confidentiality, but said that medical officials "constantly examined" her while she was in jail.

Paris will be under house confinement in her West Hollywood home for 40 days. After the 40 days are up, Whitmore says she will have "fulfilled her debt to society." Whitmore made it clear that Paris was not released early - she was re-assigned. She is technically still in custody.

Paris Hilton's good buddy Nicole Richie told David Letterman during a taping for his talk show on Wednesday that she's worried about landing in jail too.

"I'm just keeping my fingers crossed, and, you know, of course, I'm scared also, but, you know, I'm willing to face whatever consequences come my way, and I take responsibility for what I've done," she said.

Does Nicole think she is next?

Richie, the 25-year-old daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie, pleaded not guilty in February to driving under the influence. She was arrested Dec. 11 and volunteered she had smoked marijuana and taken the prescription painkiller Vicodin, but no drugs were found on her or in the car, police said.

Richie already had a 2003 misdemeanor DUI conviction. The California vehicle code says if convicted of DUI twice within 10 years, a person can be sentenced to between 90 days and a year in jail and have his or her driving privileges suspended. During the "Late Show" taping, Letterman asked Richie, who acknowledged previous legal troubles, when she'll learn her fate. "Probably the end of this month," she responded. A sympathetic Letterman wished her the best, saying, "I hope you don't have to go to jail."

Richie starred in the TV reality show "The Simple Life" with Hilton, who has had similar problems. The 26-year-old hotel heiress checked into the Century Regional Detention Facility in suburban Los Angeles on Sunday to serve 23 days for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.