Paris Hilton avoided the journalists and paparazzi camped out waiting for her at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood by arriving at the men’s Central Jail in downtown LA around 10:30 p.m. last night. Her surrender to police was not photographed, although she was videotaped sobbing in her car while sitting next to her somber-looking mother, Kathy. Yesterday the LA Sheriff said that he wouldn’t allow Paris to be paraded into jail all forlorn-looking in handcuffs, as he didn’t think she should be able to profit from her jail time. Paris was thought to be planning a high-profile entrance on Monday for her 23 day stay, where she was required to report by Tuesday. She was even said to have hired a hairstylist and makeup artist to make sure that she looked glam for her photo op before prison. That didn’t happen, and it is thought that the Sheriff made her change her plans in an effort to forgo the media circus.

While earlier reports had Paris sharing her cell with a roommate who is already serving time for reckless driving, Paris is now said to be serving in solitary confinement in a special wing of the jail 23 hours a day. She will avoid contact with the general population by having her one hour of free time a day in a “pod” that is attached to her cell. A shower, telephone and television will be provided for her use.

Paris said in interviews on the MTV Movie Awards red carpet that she was scared but ready to face the consequences of her actions. She said “I am trying to be strong right now. “I’m really scared but I’m ready to face my sentence.” Paris also claimed she had a chance to go to a paid prison, which is what Martha Stewart did, but that she decided to do her time in the correctional facility. It may have changed, but the judge specifically said that Paris could not pay to go to the facility of her choice. I don’t think she’s telling the truth here:

“I did have a choice to go to a pay jail,” said Hilton, without giving details. “But I declined because I feel like the media portrays me in a way that I’m not and that’s why I wanted to go to county, to show that I can do it and I’m going to be treated like everyone else. I’m going to do the time, I’m going to do it the right way.”

If this was true I doubt she would be reporting to the LA County jail now, and this is the first I’ve heard of it.

Host Sarah Silverman made a pretty raunchy joke about Paris at the MTV Music Awards. She said that Paris was going to get special treatment in jail, and that the guards have painted the bars of her cell to look like penises. “I’m just afraid she’s going to break her teeth on those things.” Paris smiled but looked uncomfortable during Silverman’s joke at her expense.

Here’s the video (NSFW language)

The prison bosses have banned all cell phones and cameras inside the prison, but the temptation may be too great for staff not to take pictures of jailed Paris. The first photos of her behind bars are thought to be worth 1/2 a million.

Here’s Paris at the MTV Movie Awards along with a still of her in the car with her mom before she surrendered to begin serving her jail sentence. Header image from TMZ.com.