All of the cable news stations did breaking news coverage on Friday for Felicity Huffman’s sentencing. Can I just say? I was surprised by how surprised people were about Felicity’s sentence. We knew a week beforehand that the federal prosecutor had only asked the judge to sentence Felicity to one month in prison. Felicity’s lawyer, on the other hand, was asking for a suspended sentence or just no jail time. The judge split the difference: Felicity was sentenced to 14 days in prison, a $30,000 fine and 250 hours of community service. She’ll also have one year of probation. The sentence was so light because A) Felicity immediately took a plea deal as soon as it was offered, B) she made a full confession to her crimes, C) she can afford great lawyers, D) her felony was relatively minor compared to many other parents’ crimes and E) she’s white and rich and what did you think was going to happen?
So even though gossip-readers knew what was about to happen, people still acted shocked and appalled that Felicity benefits from white privilege. Personally, I think Felicity’s public statements (as part of her guilty plea) made her look worse and even more out-of-touch, but what do I know. Felicity made a statement on Friday just after her sentencing:
I accept the court’s decision today without reservation. I have always been prepared to accept whatever punishment Judge Talwani imposed. I broke the law. I have admitted that and I pleaded guilty to this crime. There are no excuses or justifications for my actions. Period.
I would like to apologize again to my daughter, my husband, my family and the educational community for my actions. And I especially want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices supporting their children.
I have learned a lot over the last six months about my flaws as a person. My goal now is to serve the sentence that the court has given me. I look forward to doing my community service hours and making a positive impact on my community. I also plan to continue making contributions wherever I can well after those service hours are completed. I can promise you that in the months and years to come that I will try and live a more honest life, serve as a better role model for my daughters and family and continue to contribute my time and energies wherever I am needed. My hope now is that my family, my friends and my community will forgive me for my actions.
*Shrug* I think she’s really sorry. I think she’s starting to understand how badly she’s screwed up her daughters’ lives. I think she understands how badly her decision-making has been for years. As for her big two-week sentence, reportedly Felicity wants to serve the two weeks in a cushy minimum-security prison in northern California:
Felicity Huffman is hoping to avoid serving hard time. Lawyers for Huffman, who reports to prison on Oct. 25, requested Friday that the actress spend her two weeks behind bars at a minimum-security women’s lockup in northern California dubbed one of the cushiest prisons in the country. The Federal Correctional Institution Dublin houses 1,235 inmates and sits about 350 miles away from her Los Angeles home. While it’s ultimately the decision of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, attorney Martin Murphy asked Judge Indira Talwani make the recommendation so the desperate inmate could see her family.
“It’s the closest to Ms. Huffman’s residence,” Murphy said inside the packed courtroom. As a Dublin inmate, the “Desperate Housewives” star would have to trade her designer duds for the prison’s issued uniform: dowdy khaki clothing marked with her name and inmate number. Huffman, 56, will have to make her bed each morning in time for a daily 6:30 a.m. inspection and it will be lights out at 10 p.m. daily, according to the inmate handbook. Husband William H. Macy and her two daughters will be able to visit on Saturday and Sundays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. but will not be able to bring any gifts.
“Visitors may bring a maximum of $35.00 per adult. Money can only be used for the vending machines in the Visiting Room and may not be given to the inmate,” the handbook states. In 2009, Forbes named the big-house as one of America’s “10 cushiest prisons” — citing the facilities gorgeous bay area weather. Despite being a sitcom star, Huffman will also be restricted to the $320 monthly commissary limit. Highlights on the commissary list include the $3.65 pizza kit and the $2.10 two-pack of Oreos. To kill time, Huffman and her inmate pals can watch movies shown on weekdays at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. It’s unclear if the Emmy Award-winner will be put on a work assignment given her short stint behind bars.
I know people always joke about this kind of sh-t, but wow, prison doesn’t sound *that* bad. Getting up at 6:30 am would actually be sleeping IN for me. And I go to bed at 10 pm anyway. And they have Oreos and a bay view. I mean…I’m sure there are fancy spas in that area with more restrictions and fewer Oreos. At the end of the two weeks, I would be like “so, I actually would like to stay a little bit longer?”
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
Oh Becky u in trouuuuble…
Lol YE! I hope! So disappointed in Felicity‘s sentencing. It just screams white privilege. I hope that Aunt Becky doesn’t get off.
Agreed. But at least she admitted fault. I even wanted her to get off a bit easy just so Becky the arrogant smirker can have her refusal to admit guilt blow up in her face. She needed to see what she missed out on by not taking a deal. I have hope for Huffman. If she gets over this «I thought I was doing the right thing» crap and admits she acted out of selfishness. I get it, its difficult to admit to yourself let alone anyone else. She can get there. Becky is a lost cause.
Her 14 dayStay gonna be nicer than my 14 day actual vacation -peasant
No it’s not about white privileged people. It’s a first time offense. Our office manager was charged with 100,000 embezzlement but first time offense. She pleaded no contest. Not guilty but not innocent. She got 1 years probation plus restitution. She should have went to prison.
14 days?? God, I spent four times that long in hospital last year, and I did nothing wrong! White privilege wins again.
I’m not sure how hospitals and prison time are comparable in this context?
Ye, I understand the comparison. I was hospitalized back in 2000-2002 three times for over 3.5 months each time. I was in isolation due to a hospital induced antibiotic-resistant strain of strep I caught after what should have been relatively minor surgery.
I couldn’t leave my hospital room. Everyone that came to visit me had to cleared, then masked, gowned and gloved and warned not to touch me. I was alternately bored, frightened and disoriented as the weeks progressed. It can feel a lot like prison when the only things you can look forward to is bad TV, new books, meal times and the occasional visit from family and friends.
Of course, prison is meant to restrict and rehabilitate but a long hospitalization like AnnaKist experienced can certainly take on the characteristics of a prison sentence without the benefit of having a definitive end date to look forward to.
You’ve clearly never been in a hospital for an extended stay. You’re very lucky. I was hospitalized for five weeks two years ago following emergency surgery that went very badly. I happily would have traded that experience for twice the prison time.
Juliaine, I’m sorry you went throught that.
I was just questioning the comparison i this context. You arent sentenced to hospital time, so comparing the two and concluding with white privelidge still doesnt make sense to me(agree with the conclusion, disagree with the math). But I hope you both are feeling much better today.
And ps yes I have Whatever. No need to be condescending.
@Ye, I’m with ya. Suddenly we’re talking about medical hospitalizations in comparison to white privilege and prison sentencing? Geesh, I haven’t even had my morning coffee.
Yeah…being a patient in a hospital is a PRIVILEGE!!! You’re lucky you got the care that you received…
Bsure to remember how lucky you are when you’re stuck in a hospital for 10-20 weeks. No life, no job, few visitors, bills piling up, missing lifetime events, feeling like absolute shit, not to mention going through a life-altering event and the stress of wondering if your life is ever going to be the same. No complaining folks, it’s a privilege.
Well, what’s the alternative? Dying?
I know what you mean. When my mother had to be hospitalized several times for treatment associated with multiple myeloma, she stated she felt like a prisoner. Your life is not your own, people walk in on you at any time of the day or night, food is not of your choice, there are stated visiting hours, you are living by somebody else’s rules & timelines, etc.
People sound so spoiled!!!!! “Urgh as they were saving my life in a sound building with clean bedding, electricity, running water, etc, they made me this dreadful dinner and people could only visit me between 1 and 7!! The nerve!!!”
…so, don’t get treatment and see what happens?
Wow, Amanduh, way to be dismissive of the pain & fear people go through.
No, I’m being realistic.
Of course hospitals are scary and being sick sucks. I would hate to have to get chemo (and positive vibes to those that have!) but my mom got a nice comfy chair, free wifi, food, and a nurse checking in round the clock during her sessions. And she had many. Or when my Dad got his stents – they educated him, kept in warm, fed him, medicated him…
imagine needing a heart stent in a place like Venezuela – where there’s not even enough water to clean the operating table???!!! Or spotty electricity?! Or having to give birth on a dirt floor by yourself without any medicine or a clean gown or even a bed?!
And then comparing our *good fortune* to that of a prison?!
I’m with you @Kaiser. As a WOC her sentence was not shocking to me at all. I remember telling a friend of mine when she said the system is not fair, I said “It was never made for us in the first place.” This is what white privilege and money gets you. I truly hope she’s sorry for what she’s done but again I wasn’t clutching my pearls when the sentence came down.
Yup. Unfortunately, this country was built by white people (men) for white people (mostly men). The judicial system is meant to punish the poor and people of color while wealthy white people can wriggle their way out of mostly anything. When I think of the black mother who was sentenced to six years for using a family member’s address to get her kids into a better public school but this wealthy, white woman got 14 days for bribery…well that says it all.
No, this country was built by the natives and slaves, and stolen by white people. It’s our ancestors blood, sweat and tears that built this place. The criminal justice system was built by white people to oppress POC, to keep us enslaved. The system works for white justice, as it has been since time immemorial.
That mother’s sentence was for selling drugs to undercover cops. It just happened at the same time as she was using the babysitter’s address.
@ Val, thanks for the correction. I meant to say judicial system. This country was absolutely built by native, slave, and immigrant communities who were shut out from reaping the financial benefits.
I’ll be shocked if they even make her do the full two weeks.
I initially gave her credit for recognizing the stupidity and selfishness of what she’d done, but now I think she was just way more PR savvy and had the foresight to listen to a smart lawyer.
The fact that her husband felt it necessary to cry to the judge about how his extremely wealthy white wife hadn’t gotten a single acting job offer since she was exposed, even though she was in important things like Transamerica and that one episode of Dangerous Housewives where like, the story line was super serious or some shit like that tells me how out of touch and tone deaf they both are about what they did and how fucking lucky she is to only do the wisp of time she is and the main reason she is because she is a wealthy white woman.
Neither of them need to fret – I’m sure a great big, very lucrative apology tour of magazines and tabloid shows is coming soon. Shit like this is why I’m not confident that Lori Loughlin’s sentence is going to be THAT much worse.
The fact that her husband had the nerve to say anything at ALL when we know that he was a part of the scheme as Felicity was is annoying af.
I am about to have a newborn and Felicity’s jail sentence sounds entirely preferable to those first three months.
RIGHT? I’m not going to say that it sounds like a vacation, but it does not sound BAD.
Yes! I bet she’ll pack that stack of books on her bedside table…finally enough free time to read! I wonder if the “prison” offers Pilates.
I was thinking there’d be yoga. Bet on it.
I agree with what you said but you saying that prison doesn’t sound that bad is extremely ignorant.
Obviously making a joke in comparing it to motherhood.
The for-profit prisons in this country are abhorrent. It sounds like Felicity gets to go to a “fluffier” one.
There was a great article published in Gawker written by a journalist who ended up spending the weekend in a prison in Virginia for speeding. He worked for a car magazine and was test driving a new model or something like that. Anyway, he found the whole experience traumatizing even though he wasn’t in there for more than a few days. So, yes, prison is no joke, especially for an ‘average’ person who needs to work for a living.
Here’s the link
https://jalopnik.com/never-speed-in-virginia-lessons-from-my-three-days-in-1613604053
He also calls OitNB “softcore p*rn” in that article. So, imo, this is a guy so wedded to his everyday privilege that losing even the least bit of autonomy is traumatic and worth a display public self-flagellation — which got him paid — while the attempt to realistically depict the lives and abuses of anyone less privileged is fetishistic because it doesn’t speak to his experience.
And when Huffman’s destination is literally listed as one of America’s cushiest prisons, I feel it’s fair to say THIS one doesn’t sound that bad.
it’s dumb decisions like this that enforce the extremely valid opinion that white privilege will always win no matter how awful the transgression is. people of colour cannot prosper, we will always be torn down, character assassinated, face unbalanced application of the law, deal with cultural appropriation..makes no difference if you’re the Duchess of Sussex or an average jane like me. different rules, slavery of a new mindset
Am I naive to think that if Kerry Washington did the same and played the part like Felicity that she too would be assigned to a cushy prison? That a star if any skin color at that level of stardom would get same treatment??????
@seraphine Yeah, you’re naive.
She would likely get a more cushy sentence than a WOC with less social standing, but I bet that it would be more harsh, and public sentiment would be more harsh than it is for FH.
Think about OJ Simpson. The police were deferential to him (except for Marc Fuhrman) and he got off on the murder charges. However, he served a rather harsh sentence (for a rich, famous guy) for theft. Now compare to the Ramseys. While wealthy, they lacked to fame and public adoration of OJ and they never charged them, or their son.
Compare Epstein’s first go-round light sentence compared to Mike Tyson. Wesley Snipes tax evasion vs. Trump, etc.
But OJ was in for murder and also tried to evade police. Thank you for the other examples. Was not aware of those.
Yes, she would get min security sentence. You only get max for violent or drug offenses. I agree that the length of the sentence is light, but the min security prison would have happened regardless because she’s not a threat to other prisoners. Since she does not have a violent past, it would be unfair to send her to Max, where she could be killed in the short sentence she has. The surprise over this is ridiculous.
I will add that KW would definitely get a longer sentence, but just that it would also be served in a min security prison.
Little/no makeup, kitten heels, black dress, cardigan. Aunt Becky is taking notes.
Oh,yes. Felicity not only had good lawyers, but I imagine that she worked with an image consultant. I think her “ look” in court was the result of makeup with gray tones to make her look even more washed out, exhausted, generally horrible and sorry. Well done!
I said in an earlier thread that she really nailed the look. At least she understood the seriousness of the crime.
I hope she never works again.
I don’t understand this comment. For a woman like Felicity Huffman, her not working again is no big deal, financially. But – be careful. If we have that stance for all convicted felons and/or those who have served time in prison, we stand to hurt a lot more people, especially women of color.
People who are genuinely resmorseful and who have paid their prescribed debt to society deserve opportunity to rebuild their lives. Isn’t that what “rehabilitation” via prison supposed to do??
I don’t think she was referring to her being a felon, more of a rich-white-woman got away with crime, she does not deserve being rewarded with a great career, as opposed to never working again.
Who wants to venture a guess that William H Macy, as a man, would have gotten zero days in prison?
I guess my stance is this – until school bus drivers who ADMIT to raping a 12-year-old girl get more than ZERO days in prison, the fact that a white woman who paid money to a dirty SAT proctor spending “only” 14 days in prison is not real high on my list of concerns.
I know there are women of color currently serving extensive sentences in prisons for simply trying to get their children a better life by lying about their address in order for the child to be in-district. I’m not saying that’s right, or that their sentence is justified, especially compared to Huffman’s. But that doesn’t mean that Felicity Huffman should also have to spend 5 years in prison. Maybe – maybe these are all signs that not only is our justice system toast, but so is our educational system.
Yeah, this is how I felt about Martha Stewart. The schadenfruede of her sentencing -rich white lady serves actual time for her crimes- was tainted by all the crimes (financial and assualt related) men aren’t serving time for.
He did get ZERO days in prison because the feds never charged him even though he was on one of the phone calls with Felicity. He knew what was going on and he skated.
I am a prison abolitionist and I really don’t see the benefit of sentencing people to any amount of time in prison, especially for a non-violent crime committed by a mother for her child, like this one. It is obviously upsetting to see how the system works differently for wealthy, white people but the solution isn’t for white people to serve longer prison sentences. The solution would be a justice and rehabilitation focused system, that doesn’t condemn the poor and people of colour to inhumane conditions and sentences. I read an interesting article recently that talked about how prison abolitionism was hugely popular in the 70’s – https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/19/prison-abolition-america-impossible-inevitable
+1
John Legend thoughtfully commented on FH, which I agree with. Essentially we sentence people to jail/prison too often, too long for non-violent crimes. That instead of FH getting more time, other non-violent offenders should get less.
I agree with this. Reading all the comments hear is hard to take. So many people just want to punish. Instead why aren’t they asking for lesser terms or no jail time for other non-violent offenders?
I loved John Legend’s take on this, and I definitely agree with him.
Agreed. Her prison time won’t serve as a deterrent to others so what’s really the point? She should have to do significantly more hours of really specific community service …maybe teach SAT prep at lower funded public schools.
It’s hard to see any scenario where community service wouldn’t be a better option than prison, save for those who are truly a continued threat (I’ll put both serial violent offenders and the likes of Benie Madoff in the category of continued thread).
Is she qualified to teach? Someone who isn’t qualified and probably resents the fact that they are forced to be there? I’d want someone who knew what they were doing to prep my kid for his SATs.
I agree with Lady D. Instead, she should work at under-performing/low income schools cleaning them or beautifying the campus, buying them supplies, etc.
My first thought was that she should spend 10000 hours working a cafeteria job. But SAT tutoring is done by college kids who get a brief training. It doesn’t require an educational background. And I think she’d benefit from seeing students pour their heart and soul into the pursuit of college admissions and scholarships.
I agree, the prison system is incredibly overcrowded and resources are slim for violent, mentally ill offenders. I think she should serve time though. Her real punishment will be her ostracization from her work and her peers. I’m a mom myself but I would never want my child to think they should cheat and bribe to get ahead. College is just a means to an end.
I dont understand why William Macy wasn’t charged as well.
I believe it had a lot to do with physical evidence, and there was none on him, though he most likely knew.
She arranged the bribe/fix for the youngest daughter to alter test scores. Her daughters’s score went up by 400 points. William was going to do the exact same thing for the older daughter, but she managed a passing score on her own, so he didn’t go ahead with the plan. He wanted to and was going to, but it proved unnecesary, so he didn’t commit a crime. The feds know all this too.
A WOC of means and can get a high priced lawyer would have received a higher sentence even if she said she’s sorry.
For her type of crime, minimum security prison is the norm (remember, these were federal, not state, charges). That she had good attorneys and quickly accepted a plea deal worked in her favor. Martha Stewart (insider trading) and Wesley Snipes (tax evasion) both went to minimum security prisons. And while they do get some sentence reduction for good behavior, she won’t be out in 20 minutes or 24 hours, like city, county or state jails may do. The Boston federal circuit judges/court aren’t as impressed by celebrity as LA.
As the parent of a son with learning difficulties I can see why Felicity ended up in this situation. My son was diagnosed in second grade, and I worked hard to help him deal with his differences. It was hard to step back and allow him to fail occasionally. If I had been in FH’s situation I don’t believe I would have made the same decisions she did, but I completely understand the temptation.
I don’t know how old your child is, but I have one with learning disabilities who will be off to college in 2 years. Her 504 states she gets extra time to take the SATs. In addition, there Are good colleges and universities out there that offer special services such as free tutoring to students with learning disabilities. A learning disability doesn’t mean your child can’t attend college. In addition, and I just went to a lecture on this, you do not want your child to attend a school that doesn’t value him. You need to find a college/uni that is a good fit and will allow your child to flourish and succeed. Believe me, I know it’s hard on a parent to watch your child struggle. FWIW, I think my daughter struggled terribly in elementary school. She did better in middle school with some provisions, and she is absolutely flourishing in high school. Best of luck to you and your family.
I taught college almost 15 years ago and I had several students with accommodations for tests (allowed to type instead of write by hand, write in a separate room, given extra time). I can only imagine in the intervening years that things are even better understood and I hope that there are more colleges/unis providing whatever is needed to level the playing field a bit.
I think with these two women in particular (Aunt Becky and Felicity), it was less about ensuring their children’s needs were met and more about making sure their egos were appropriately stroked.
I have a learning disability. I also graduated from a university most students flunk out of regularly because the course work is rigorous. This was in the days before accommodations so I had none. To every parent out there with a child with learning disability, THERE.IS.NO.REASON.TO.DO.THIS. I did the work and asked for help when I needed it. People just need to stop with the bullsh-t.
Not surprised at the light sentence, but what really angers me is that we have homeless veterans living on the street who would LOVE to have the pleasantries of a minimum security prison (and oreos).
I would have preferred no prison time and a much larger fine and more community service. And therapy. Any one that overwhelmed with motherhood clearly has inadequate coping skills. It’s not that complicated, your job as a parent is not to buy your kids way into school. Your job is to raise your kids so that they can get into college on their own merit and be functional productive members of society – and hopefully not sociopaths or psychopaths.
$2.10 is a disgusting amount of money for whatever company runs that prison to be charging inmates for a two-pack of Oreos. I know at least some of the inmates actually committed crimes and at least some of them are sentenced for an appropriate amount of time. But if they are going to sell food (already an issue of privilege in a prison, no??) they should at least not use it to pad prison industrial complex profits.
She’s remorseful. With all the shit going on. This is low on my list. I wish her luck.
Prison is humiliating, dehumanizing, traumatizing. She’ll still go through the naked cavity searches, and she’ll be lucky if she doesn’t get harassed or worse, attacked by the other inmates. A lot can happen in two weeks.
I wouldn’t wish prison on anyone. We should wish for less prison for everyone instead. And this could have been a great case to argue: “No prison time for non-violent offenders, let her do tons of community service instead”. Let her do six months of it, full time! That would have been fairer, easier on taxpayers, and again, less likely for f*ck her up for the rest of her life. Blah.
I’m actually more interested in the community service and how that’s set up. It’s several weeks of full time work. What sorts of things comprise a sentence?
I thought Dublin would be a given for her. I think it’s the closest federal prison to where she lives. If they have space, I don’t see why they wouldn’t take her. Requests are permitted.
Martha Stewart requested to do her time in Litchfield so she’d be closer to her family. But Litchfield was afraid of bad publicity because of some of the conditions, so they closed it to new admissions around the time they guessed Martha would begin her sentence and she ended up at a newer federal facility in West Virginia. I remember those parts from the book ( not TV show) Orange is the New Black. The real Piper was serving her time in Litchfield when this happened.
I respect her for owning up and pleading guilty immediately.
Of course it’s white rich privilege but who said life was fair.
She’s probably shocked she got any jail time. In 2 weeks it will be over and life goes on.
The job offers will start coming in again.
Unpopular opinion, probably, as I am a POC myself, but this sentence seems fine to me. It is on her permanent record and she has to live with the shame and embarrassment the rest of her life. Huffman has always been a pillar in her community and I don’t see why people want her to suffer. Take it out on those who truly deserve scorn. Use this anger against Trump, Pompeo, Ivanka. Those who are stealing millions, if not more, from us. This is a lot of misdirected anger.
I agree, JM. I would rather see her pay student debts than suffer. Two weeks is a vacation that serves no one. It may also give her Street cred like Paris and Martha.
25 ct bet she serves one day and gets released due to over crowding. Not sure why she would make arrangements for a cushy prison when a much tougher one would release her earlier. The cushy one would keep her for the 14 days. I’m getting OITNB reboot fears from this.
That doesn’t happen in Federal prison, you serve the sentence.
And Dublin isn’t overcrowded
I don’t want her to go to prison, I want her to pay for the college tuition of many underprivileged students for the rest of her life.
I want both. Greedy I know but geez, this is just ridiculous.
Yes, that would be a good and reasonable solution.
Prison is prison – I highly doubt it is “cushy”, let alone a “vacation” (not to mention that a conviction doesn’t look good on anyone’s resume).
Was she supposed to be imprisoned in a maximum security prison? Why?
Surely she is highly unlikely to try to escape or be violent.
The whole concept of imprisonment is stone-age mentality, anyway. Sure, those who are physically dangerous should be removed from society (maybe send them to a self-governing colony on some island); but as a means of *punishment* it is appallingly outdated and ineffective.
Let’s say an individual killed someone with their car. Remove their driving licence – for good – AND make them work to support the victim’s family. Or to serve society in general. Sitting in prison doesn’t do anyone any good – but it often turns non-criminal minds into proper criminals.
There’s a part of me that wonders if this piddly sentence is a way to sort of troll Lori/Mossimo. Like, “see how much better it would have been if you took the plea?”.