Lindsey Lohan Sentenced to 73 Days in Rehab, Release Jan. 3, 2011

Lindsey Lohan sentenced to 73 days in rehab by Judge Fox today. Her release date is January 3, 2011. Judge Fox stated that the date was specifically chosen to keep Lindsey in rehab on New Years' Eve.

Although critics say that Lindsey is being made an example and that most people would not be punished as harshly for failed drug tests, may be the judge is actually trying to save her life.

Stemming from her original DUI (Driving Under the Influence) in 2007, Lohan has repeated missed court dates, failed drug tests and didn't accept that she had a problem with drugs and alcohol. That seems to be changing as Lindsey has acknowledged that she has a drug problem and she voluntarily checked herself in The Betty Ford Clinic after a prior court appearance and a failed drug test. She left The Betty Ford Clinic at 4 a.m. to make it to court on time.

Rehab is definitely better than jail although most courts would not go to such an extent to keep someone off the streets. Usually this situation would end in the defendant returning home and then relapsing or committing another crime such as a DUI. But the judge is treating Lindsey differently than the average DUI defendant. There is a tight reign on Lindsey Lohan and she is whipped back into place immediately if she steps out of line.

When I first heard that Lindsey Lohan was sentenced to 73 days in rehab, I couldn't believe it because she was currently in rehab, but apparently Lindsey herself asked the judge for more time in rehab in a written letter to the judge.

This approach may just save her life. At least she isn't quite as bad as Britney Spears yet. She didn't have two kids that were taken away from her, but Britney at least has something that Lindsey does not have, two decent parents to help take care of her. Britney Spears currently has her father, Jaime Spears, acting as her conservator and watching over her behavior and money as ordered by the court.

The court system would not be able to do the same for Lindsey since her parents, Michael Lohan and Dina Lohan, need conservators for themselves. May be the court can look another generation back and find some grandparents to help out Lindsey. In the meantime, hopefully having Lindsey Lohan sentenced to 73 days in rehab will change and save her life.