Teresa Giudice to be released from prison this week; lawyer reveals details of reality star's home confinement
Teresa Giudice is counting down the hours until she gets home to her family. "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star is set to be released from fthe ederal prison in Danbury, Connecticut on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 11 and a half months since she started serving her prison sentence for fraud.
Speaking with NorthJersey.com, Teresa's attorney, James Leonard Jr., talked about the mother of four's release and revealed some details about the star's upcoming home confinement period.
Initially, there were rumors that the 43-year-old will be going to a halfway house after her release from prison, but Leonard denied this and adamantly said that his client is not going to a halfway house.
"She's getting released on Dec. 23, I don't know exactly what time. I will be picking her up and driving her home," said Leonard to the website. The lawyer said that when Teresa comes home, she will be on home confinement until Feb. 5, and during that time, she will be able to work, take care of business, and even get medical treatment if needed.
"When that period ends, she will begin a period of supervised release. The sentence that she got was two years of supervised release," he added.
The attorney refused to give specifics on the cookbook author's supervised release but did say that in general, one has to "stay out of trouble" and "pay fines."
The website reports that Teresa will be wearing a waterproof ankle-monitor bracelet during her home confinement period.
Beatrice Codianni, who spent 6 and a half years at the Danbury satellite camp and is now managing editor of the national prison news and information website Reentry Central, told the website what Teresa and her family can expect during her home confinement.
Codianni said that one does have to wear an ankle bracelet during home confinement and that the person is limited as to where he or she can go.
"And if they call you—they can call you day or night, no matter what hour—you have to answer. If you don't answer, you're in big trouble," said Codianni.
The terms of the star's home confinement is something that Bravo producers will have to deal with should Teresa return for another season on the hit reality show. While Leonard declined to confirm whether his client will be on the next season, he did say that if Teresa were to re-sign with the network, she would be allowed to film the show.
"That's how she supports her family," he said.
