Nicole Richie 'Pleasantly Surprised' by jail release in just 82 minutes

Actress Nicole Richie got “pleasantly surprised” when she was released from the slammer after serving just 82 minutes of her four-day jail sentence, awarded to her after she was caught driving under the influence (DUI) for the second time.

Her lawyer revealed that she was prepared to complete her sentence if the sheriff wanted her to do so.

"Nicole was aware that most people with sentences similar to hers are booked and released in a matter of hours and she was hoping to be treated like everyone else," People magazine quoted attorney Shawn Chapman Holley as saying in a statement.

"Nevertheless, she was prepared to serve her entire four-day sentence had the Sheriff's Department required her to do so," added the attorney.

The five-month pregnant Richie entered the jail in Lynwood, California at 3:15 pm, and she was released at 4:37 p.m.

"Of course, she was pleasantly surprised to be released so quickly," said Holley.

Kerri Webb, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's department, said that the actress "was released early due to overcrowding in the jail system.”

“This is standard procedure for nonviolent offenders," she added.

Richie was arrested for DUI on December 11 after being spotted driving her black Mercedes SUV the wrong way on an L.A. freeway. She was previously convicted of DUI in June 2003.