"House arrest is nothing," said Steve Cron, a criminal defense attorney unconnected to the case. "She can have friends over. She can party all night long."

If he doesn't, however, Hilton, who was sprung from jail Thursday after serving just over three days of a 45-day sentence, would be able to roam free in her gated 2,700-square-foot home for the duration of the sentence, reduced to 23 days for good behavior.

The monitoring device allows long distance surveillance by probation officials to keep track of the whereabouts of offenders, with a range of about 3,000 to 4,000 square feet.

"House arrest for someone like her who doesn't have to work and doesn't have to worry about picking up her clothes at the dry cleaner is not a problem," Cron said. "She can have all her food sent in."

The early release of the 26-year-old socialite created a stir with questions about special treatment for celebrities and the well-heeled.

Sheriff's officials, however, said it was not unusual for inmates to finish sentences under home confinement.

Hilton spent three nights in a 12-by-8-foot cell at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, just south of downtown Los Angeles and a world away from her Hollywood Hills home.

It was not known whether special restrictions were placed on "The Simple Life" star. Her publicist Elliot Mintz and attorney Richard Hutton did not return repeated phone calls Thursday. Whitmore said he was unaware of the conditions for home confinement.

Cron said special conditions can be worked out with the sheriff and the court.

Anyone can visit Hilton at home and she can even do a photo shoot or interview if she likes, Cron said. But it's unlikely Hilton will risk leaving home for a night on the town.

"If there's any photos of her out at night, all hell will break loose," Cron said.