Why Felicity Huffman Was Released 3 Days Early from Prison

Recently, actress and former Felicity Huffman made headlines for being released from prison nearly three days early. This early release has raised numerous questions regarding the process of serving time and the specifics of her case.

The Bribery Case

Huffman was involved in a college admissions scandal where she pleaded guilty to paying $25,000 as part of a college bribery scheme. In this scandal, Huffman's husband also faced charges, and they paid a much higher sum of $300,000.

Why Was She Released Early?

Everybody counts jail time differently, and this question is no different. Initially, Huffman was slated to serve 15 days in total. However, her release came after she was given credit for a full day of time served. This allowed her to be released on the last preceding weekday before her official release date, a provision that greatly influenced her early release.

Official Release Timeline

According to the official record, Huffman reported for custody on October 15th. A day earlier, on March 12th, she spent a full day in jail which was credited toward her sentence. Subsequently, her release date was set for a Sunday. However, due to this provision, she was allowed to be released on the Friday preceding the Sunday, effectively reducing her jail time by three days.

How Federal Law Affects Time Served

Under federal law, if you are in custody for even one second, it counts for an entire day. This means that every moment spent in jail is counted as a full day served. Therefore, the brief time Huffman was in custody after her first arrest and processing after sentencing counted as full days toward her sentence.

Impact of the Provision

The provision allowing inmates to be released on the last preceding weekday before their official release date is a legal benefit designed to accommodate the logistical challenges of scheduling. For Huffman, this meant she could be released after only 13 days instead of 15.

Conclusion

The release of Felicity Huffman from prison early highlights the complex legal intricacies of serving time and the possible benefits provided by prison regulations. It also showcases how the exact timing of a prisoner's arrival and the legal provisions in place can significantly impact the duration of their stay in custody.

Related Information

For more in-depth analysis and updates on this story, check out the following articles:

NPR: College Admissions Scandal Bloomberg: College Admissions Scams WBUR: Felicity Huffman Bribery Sentence