FACTBOX: Favoritism or fairness in Hilton jail release?

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Celebrity heiress Paris Hilton was released after three days in a Los Angeles jail on Thursday to serve 40 days house arrest, prompting reactions ranging from glee to accusations of favoritism.

Following are some comments on Hilton's release:

PARIS HILTON:

"I want to thank the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and staff of the Century Regional Detention Center for treating me fairly and professionally. I am going to serve the remaining 40 days of my sentence. I have learned a great deal from this ordeal and hope that others have learned from my mistakes."

STEVE WHITMORE, LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

SPOKESMAN:

"It is not an early release; it is a reassignment. ... It doesn't matter how we look. We just hopefully do our job and do it professionally, with a sense of humanity."

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT:

"This was a unilateral decision by the Sheriff's Department. Judge Michael T. Sauer, who presided in the case, indicated to the sheriff's department that he would not change his order absent a written application supported by substantial facts. No application was made."

REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER:

"This early release gives all of the appearances of economic and racial favoritism that is constantly cited by poor people and people of color. There are any number of cases of people who handle being incarcerated badly and even have health conditions that are not released. .... This act smacks of the double standards that many of us raise."

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISOR MIKE ANTONOVICH:

"This makes a mockery of due process and you're dealing with a spoiled brat, acting out to get her way instead of serving her time as was adjudicated by the courts. She should pay the consequences for her actions and what's happened -- she's now going home to her estate."

STEVE REMIGE, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES

DEPUTY SHERIFFS:

"There appears to have been preferential treatment. ... On any given day, a thousand female inmates are in custody. Why is one case, out of the blue, treated any different than them?"

E. CHRISTOPHER MURRAY, NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES LAWYER:

"Sentencing Paris to jail for an extended period of time was an example of a celebrity being treated more harshly than an average person. ... Allowing her to be subject to house arrest is appropriate punishment, and should have been implemented earlier."

JOSHUA D.S. MORALES, ORGANIZER OF THE FREE PARIS HILTON

PETITION:

"This is a wonderful day in our country's great history and I am happy to be a part of it. The petition that I created ... collected over 30,000 signatures and shows that Ms. Hilton has the love and support of fans worldwide."

SATIRIST DAVE SEAMAN, freeparis.shutterline.com:

"The liberation movement is simply thrilled with the news! This is a triumph for grass-roots civic action."

Reuters/Nielsen