After 35 days of house arrest, actress Lindsay Lohan was released, leaving her free to celebrate her 25th birthday Saturday.
"I'm excited to start community service and focus on my work," Lohan told reporters upon leaving her home.
The electronic monitoring bracelet was removed from Lohan's ankle about
40 minutes before she was officially freed, spokesman Steve Whitmore
said, as reported by CNN.
She was
initially handed a 120-day jail sentence after pleading guilty for stealing a necklace from a jewelry store, but she was allowed to serve
time at home in Venice, California due to prison overcrowding, Hollywood.com reports.
"Because of budget constraints and because we're under a federal consent
decree that requires us to curb our overcrowding situation, nonviolent
offenders, lesser crimes, get 20% of their sentence," Whitmore said.
The "Mean Girls" star must still abide by the terms of her release by completing 480 hours of community service and taking an anti-shoplifting class.
A probation report released last month said the actress "appears to be continuing to struggle with substance abuse issues," CNN reports.
"It would appear that the defendant's criminal conduct is increasing in seriousness and severity," the probation report said, yet it suggested she serve her sentence on probation and not in jail.