LOS ANGELES - Paris Hilton was released from jail early Thursday due to an unspecified medical condition after serving only three days of a 23-day sentence.

She was sent home with an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet and must remain there for 40 days, according to sheriffs spokesman Steve Whitmore.

Hilton checked into the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood on Sunday night to begin serving time for violating probation.

The 26-year-old hotel heiress surrendered with little fanfare after a surprise appearance at the MTV Movie Awards, where she worked the red carpet in a strapless designer gown.

"I am trying to be strong right now," she told reporters at the time. "I'm ready to face my sentence. Even though this is a really hard time, I have my family, my friends and my fans to support me, and that's really helpful."

Hilton was housed in the "special needs" unit of the 13-year-old jail, separate from most of its 2,200 inmates. The unit contains 12 two-person cells reserved for police officers, public officials, celebrities and other high-profile inmates. She didn't have a cellmate.

After her first night in jail, Hilton's lawyer, Richard A. Hutton, said she was doing well under the circumstances.

"She's using this time to reflect on her life, to see what she can do to make the world better and hopefully, in my opinion, to change the attitudes that exist about her among many people," Hutton said after visiting Hilton.

When she was sentenced May 4, Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer ruled that she would not be allowed any work release, furloughs or use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail.

Sheriff's officials had said she would serve about 23 days of her 45 day sentence behind bars because of state rules allowing shorter sentences for good behavior.

The star of "The Simple Life" reality TV show pleaded no contest to a reckless-driving charge in January and was sentenced to 36 months' probation. When she was later pulled over by the California Highway Patrol, Hilton was told that she was driving on a suspended license and signed a document acknowledging she was not to drive. She was then pulled over by sheriff's deputies on Feb. 27 and charged with violating probation.


Paris Hilton is Released from Jail

I knew she wasn't goin to have to spend the whole time in there, but only 3 days? and she has a "medical condition" I wonder why it just now came out.. she will prolly only have to wear the ankle bracelet for a couple days and then she'll be free because of some other excuse...