Paris Hilton is in need of spiritual sustenance

Clearly Paris is in need of spiritual sustenance as she is days away from starting a 23-day sentence for violating the terms of her probation by driving while her license was suspended.

The 26-year-old also carried a self-help book titled 'Count Your Blessings: The healing power of gratitude and love'.

Paris seems to have been on a mission to find something positive to hold onto in the wake of the shock jail sentence she was handed last month.

This latest evidence of her growing interest in all things spiritual comes just a few weeks she was seen attending church. Mother Kathy said her daughter is "preparing and praying" for her ordeal.

Paris is said to be anxious and worried about going to jail. Friend and Simple Life co-star Nicole Richie said: "Well wouldn't you be?".

On a US radio show she leapt to on-off friend's defence bizarrely saying the heiress had been "exploited".

She said: "The way that Paris' whole entire case was dealt with was, A, out of her control but B, really unfair,".

Richie, who is also facing a driving charge which could see her serve time in jail added: "Sometimes people just get exploited so I can only hope that doesn't happen to me."

Paris has until 11:59 p.m. on June 5 to report to the Century Regional Detention Facility to start her sentence where she will share a cell with a cellmate handpicked for discretion - a fellow reckless driver.

The prison went to great pains to pick a cellmate who won't try and cash in on Paris's stay.

Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore quashed rumours Paris was likely to serve a further reduced sentence, after her original 45-day term was cut in half.

He told Associated Press there is no chance Hilton will be released early due to overcrowding, as former Lost actress Michelle Rodriguez was when she served less than one day of a 60-day sentence at the same county jail.

Whitmore said: "The situation in the jail will not determine (Hilton's) release".

"She has been given a full sentence. She will do her full sentence."

Paris must come empty-handed to the jail, and once she's booked into custody, she'll have to surrender her clothing and jewellery in exchange for the requisite orange jumpsuit.

She will also get the same standard-issue kit all incoming inmates at the 2,200-bed jail receive: a toothbrush, tube of toothpaste, soap, a comb, deodorant, shampoo and shaving implements, along with a jail-issued pencil, stationery, envelopes and stamps.

If the partygirl wants to wear make-up, she will have to buy prison issue make-up and she can get a package of hair dye from the jail commissary, where she can draw from a prepaid account.

Obviously money won't be an issue. Still looking sombre, Paris headed out for the evening. But even the pretty party frock she wore couldn't disguise how ill at ease she looks as her jail term approaches.

Paris Hilton is reading ?Count Your Blessings? by Dr John Demartini, Australian RRP $24.95. It is available from all good bookshops.