Lindsay Lohan Avoids Jail – Career In Question

Lindsay Lohan once again avoids a full jail sentence today, and she has the California Prison system to thank for that.

TMZ.com is reporting that two Sheriff's Dept. officials say ... if someone receives a misdemeanor sentence of 90 days or less, they are routinely processed in and then released.  California's overcrowded prison system play a part in this process.  Yet another slap on the wrist for Lohan, who now has 5 jail sentences since 2007 and last served 35 days under house arrest.

Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner imposed a complicated sentence on the actress, telling her that she will now have to perform all of her community service at the county morgue or risk serving an additional 270 days in jail.  "The sentence I'm going to impose is known in our circles as putting the keys to the jail in the defendant's hands," the judge said.  Is this a wise idea with Lohan's track record?

What Lindsay needs is help, and it has to make you wonder whether or not she is serious about treatment.  Last year TMZ reported an offer for Lohan from VH1 - $1,000,000 to go on Celebrity Rehab, then do the Sober House, and have a reality show of her own at the end of the process.  Word is, although she needed the money, she rejected the offer because she claimed she does not have a problem.

Dr. Drew Pinsky has had some success with some major hard core Hollywood drug addicts like Tom Sizemore, who has started rebounding from a very public battle with drugs (now with a recurring role on Hawaii 5-0, and a supporting role in a movie about the Bernie Madoff scandal).  The proposition seemed like a win-win for everyone, but now Lohan won this battle with a near million dollar offer from Playboy and a major film role opposite John Travolta and Joe Pesci about the Gotti family.

Winning the war in the long run for Miss Lohan is the big question.  No question that when Lindsay is focused and sober she has the talent to go very far.  The Parent Trap showed she was a force at a young age - succeeding in 2 roles and updating a Disney classic successfully.  Freaky Friday proved to be box office success again, once again resurrecting another Disney classic.  Mean Girls became an instant cult classic smash, winning multiple MTV Movie Awards.

The downward spiral at the box office started around  2005 with the Herbie re-boot, followed by Just My Luck, Georgia Rule, and I Know Who Killed Me.  4 straight box office bombs may have contributed to her downward fall. She was not equipped to deal with failure.  Network TV tried to help her with an arc on Ugly Betty, but that point the ABC series was losing steam.  Around this time period was when the stories first surfaces about Lohan out of control.

Much of the last 5 years has seen the 25-year-old making news for DUIs, arrests, theft, and experimentation.  A career could still be had here, but she is not getting help for herself, or from the Hollywood community hiring her, or even from the California prison system.  A long stint in prison might scare her into sobriety, but she seems to act above all this.  This may be the attitute that sadly may kill her.

I do not wish ill of Lindsay Lohan - yes she had a weird upbringing with parents seemingly more concerned with celebrity than parenting, but she's an adult now.  Take responsibility Lindsay, clean up, and get back to the talent you can be.  Please do not become another Hollywood talent gone too soon.