There may not be peace in the Middle East, but the world can indeed rest easier, as Paris Hilton's jail term has been cut in half on account of her "good behavior."

Paris Hilton

Los Angeles County prison officials said yesterday that the celebrity heiress' 45-day prison sentence, handed down when she violated the terms of her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case, has been reduced to 23 days.

The would-be singer's sentence was shortened after jail officials gave her credit for good behavior, including her appearance at her latest court date, Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told the Associated Press.

Hilton, 26, will serve her term in a "special needs housing unit" at the Century Regional Detention Center in suburban Lynwood, Whitmore said. Hilton will stay in a unit that contains 12 two-person cells reserved for police officers, public officials, celebrities, and other high-profile inmates, he said.

Like everyone else in the 2,200-inmate facility, Hilton will get at least an hour outside her cell each day to shower, watch television, participate in outdoor recreation, or talk on the telephone, he said.

Hilton was arrested last September for driving under the influence. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation and subsequently had her license suspended. Hilton was pulled over three times during the period of her suspension, each time violating her probation. She was sentenced to 45 days in jail on May 5.

After the sentence was handed down, Hilton's mother Kathy Hilton called it "pathetic and disgusting." Fans started a petition to appeal to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to pardon Hilton, but the Governator replied that he had better things to do with his time than to get involved in the Hilton situation.

At least one band called Hilton's pleas for leniency ridiculous. "She did something anyone would be punished for," said Scott Stevens, frontman for the Exies. "She's no different than anyone else, and she needs a reality check and needs to take the hit like everybody else would."

The band started a petition to keep Paris in jail for her full term. While the Free Paris petition has received 27,000 signatures, the Jail Paris petition has received 76,000 names.