Wednesday 19 October 2011

Lindsay Lohan's probation

Having given Lindsay Lohan an incredible amount of slack on earlier occasions, Judge Stephanie Sautner ripped into the troubled star for continuing to defy the law, during a probation hearing on Wednesday, October 19.


The judge revoked Lindsay's probation for violating the terms of her probation, after the prosecutor told the judge that Lindsay had been booted out of community service program at the Downtown Women's Center because of her conduct. The judge set bail at $100,000.


Sautner, who had earlier warned Lindsay to stay in compliance of the terms of her probation lamented:


"There has been violation after violation. Probation is a gift, it's not a right."


Following the ruling, Lidsay's hands were cuffed and she was taken into custody. Later during the day, Lindsay posted bail and was free again.


She has been asked to appear in court again on November 2 for a follow-up hearing that may see her being sentenced to jail.


During the hearing, the judge easily saw through a report by probation department officials that stated that Lindsay was in "substantial compliance" with the terms of her probation and defended her conduct at the Women's Center saying the assignment was "not fulfilling."


Under the terms of her probation, Lindsay is required to attend therapy every week. According to the report, a copy of which has been obtained by TMZ, Lindsay has been attending therapy every Tuesday and her psychotherapist "believes that the defendant has been developing tools to help discipline herself and she is really proud of her accomplishments."


It quotes the therapist as stating, "The defendant is doing really well, she is making changes, and is trying to become more disciplined in her actions."


A skeptical Judge Sautner pointed out that Lindsay had spent weeks overseas during the period.


According to TMZ, the judge will ask the probation department to substantiate their claim that Lindsay attended all her weekly sessions during the November 2 hearing.


Chastised by the adverse outcome of the court hearing, Lindsay is reportedly ready to make amends, but that maybe something you have heard before.


According to TMZ, Lindsay has been telling friends that she gets it – she got what she deserved.


Aware that Lohan probably would post her $100,000 bail, Sautner ordered the actress to immediately begin community service at the county morgue. Lohan must work there at least two days a week pending a Nov. 2 probation revocation hearing.


Lohan's attorney said her client would be at the morgue starting Thursday.


Sautner hinted that with jail overcrowding and the increase in felons being returned to local jails, where Lohan has served four short stints only to be released early each time, putting her behind bars might not be a good solution.


When Sautner gave Lohan a 120-day jail sentence for shoplifting early this year, she ended up serving only 35 days under house arrest because of jail overcrowding.


"If jail meant something in the state of California now, maybe I'd put her in jail," Sautner said.


Sautner blasted Lohan during the 40-minute hearing, taking note that the actress had told probation officials that she did not find the work at the women's shelter to be "fulfilling."


"Her words: 'The service was not fulfilling.' Is that what a sentence is about? To fulfill the defendant?" Then she answered her own question: "No."


The judge also questioned how Lohan complied with her court-ordered weekly psychological counseling when she was working in Europe from Sept. 9 to Oct. 5.


Lohan's attorney, Shawn Holley, said the actress "had to earn a living to support herself and her family" and her opportunities are in Europe. Overall, Holley said, the actress' probation report was positive.


"We are dealing with someone on probation," Holley said. "Most people on probation don't always do things perfectly."

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