Felicity Huffman Luxury Prison: Serving Jail Term or Vacation?
"Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman has reported to federal prison in North Carolina to serve her now 13-day sentence for her involvement in a college admissions scandal. But is this really imprisonment or luxury vacation?
The scandal was about wealthy parents using money and other illegal means to get their children into elite educational institutions.
On October 17, the Huffman's husband, William Macy, dropped her off at the low-security Federal Correctional Institute, Dublin, located about five and a half hours from Los Angeles where the family lives.
The area is actually located in the expensive side of San Francisco, which is surrounded by million-dollar homes. It isn't only one of California's most expensive zip codes, but it also has cool ocean breeze, floor to ceiling, windows without bars, private rooms with TV, computers and acres of gardens.
According to a media source, the actress will adhere to a strict schedule when she's in the facility. People magazine referred to a handbook given to inmates during the start of their sentence, which indicated that inmates wake up at 5 am and are expected to be back at their housing unit by 9 pm.
Breakfast meals could include milk, fruit, hot or cold cereal, or bread with jelly, while lunch items contain chicken patty sandwiches, steamed rice, lettuce and tomato with salad dressing and dessert. Their dinner menu offers Salisbury steak or black beans, mashed potato, corn and gravy.
Huffman will be wearing a uniform and must wear boots in uniform; however, she must also possess one pair of shower shoes, sneakers (valued at $100 or less), slippers and casual shoes. Her jewellery has been limited to her wedding band and one pair of studs or small hoop earrings.
The prison will issue a toothpaste, toothbrush, combs, razors and soap. Nonetheless, Huffman can purchase brand name items at the commissary. If she needs over-the-counter medication, an exception will be made.
She can keep several letters, books, magazines, photographs and newspapers in her storage space and can also listen to music or podcasts on an approved radio, MP3 player or watch.
Huffman can do craft projects while there, including drawing, crotchet, origami, cross-stitching, scrapbooking and watercolor.
On the weekends, she can do some outdoor recreations like hanging around on the sundeck. She could also play sports such as softball, basketball and volleyball.
A spokesperson said that the actress would have access to a gym, a library, a TV room and will share a place with open toilet with three other inmates.
She's also entitled to family visits on the weekends from 8 am to 2 pm.
In May 2019, Huffman admitted that she paid $15,000 for a college entrance exam proctor to correct her daughter's SAT answers and has arranged for the teen to have more time to take her test.
Aside from the 250 hours of community service, she must undergo a year of probation. The actress was also ordered to pay a fine of $20,000.
Huffman is the first parent sentenced in the scandal.
After the sentencing, a remorseful Huffman told the judge that she was frightened and stupid.
On March 12, the U.S. attorney's office in Massachusetts indicated that the Huffman, "Full House" actress Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannuli were all part of the "Operation Varsity Blues." Loughlin and Giannuli declined a plea deal and await trial.
