INMATE
Robert Downey Jr., actor
THE CRIME
After some drug-related arrests, violated a court order to refrain from getting high
THE TIME
180 days; began serving in Dec. 1997
FACILITY
Los Angeles County Jail
UPSIDES
Phone; TV; two hot meals daily such as chipped beef on toast
DOWNSIDES
One hour for visitors, three weekly for exercise; movies can’t have sex or violence
FAMOUS ALUMS
O.J. Simpson, while on trial
INMATE
Heidi Fleiss, Hollywood madam
THE CRIME
Tax evasion, laundering prostitution profits, conspiring to cover up crimes
THE TIME
37 months; began serving in Feb. 1997
FACILITY
Federal Prison Camp, Dublin, Calif.
UPSIDES
GED courses, arts and crafts, personal radios, aerobics
DOWNSIDES
Mechanical work, landscaping, food-serving, blue prison uniforms
FAMOUS ALUMS
Michael Milken, Patty Hearst
INMATE
Marion (Surge) Knight, music mogul
THE CRIME
Violated parole terms of 1992 assault case and 1994 weapons-trafficking conviction
THE TIME
Nine years, six months; began serving in Oct. 1996
FACILITY
The California Men’s Colony, San Luis Obispo
UPSIDES
Softball, tennis, track; vocational programs; priests on premises
DOWNSIDES
Allowed only six cubic feet of personal material; must keep own cell, toilet clean
FAMOUS ALUMS
Timothy Leary, Christian Brando, Ike Turner
INMATE
Christian Slater, actor
THE CRIME
Sentenced for beating girlfriend after he told cops he’d taken cocaine
THE TIME
90 days; began serving in Jan. 1998
FACILITY
La Verne City Jail, 30 miles east of Los Angeles
UPSIDES
Can wear own clothing, eat microwavable food, work out, use a laptop
DOWNSIDES
Work includes mopping floors, preparing meals, washing police cars
FAMOUS ALUMS
None
