Former "Dance Moms" reality star Abby Lee Miller has been released from federal prison early because of good behavior. She was sentenced in May 2017 to serve a year and a day for bankruptcy fraud. She was in California's Victorville Federal Correctional Institution since July 12, 2017, and was released on Tuesday, March 28. Even though she was released from federal prison, she is not exactly free to go and do as she pleases. She will spend the rest of her sentence in a Halfway House in Long Beach, California.

According to the Bureau of Prisons, Miller has been assigned to a residential halfway house until her final release on May 25.

It won't be all over when she leaves that facility because she will be on probation for another two years.

On Wednesday, March 29, the 51-year-old television personality was spotted for the first time since her incarceration. She was all smiles and was dressed casually in a long-sleeved white shirt, gray shorts, black sandals with long white socks.

About halfway houses

Even though halfway houses are under the authority of the Bureau of Prisons, there is more freedom than being in a federal prison. Often they are operated by private contractors who provide supervision to help former inmates make a smooth transition back into society.

They take courses and get information about finding a job and managing finances which Abby needs since her unwise money decisions landed her in jail.

Miller's life now

Prison consultant Jennifer Myers was Miller's counselor. She provided details to Entertainment Tonight about what life will be like for Miller during her stay at the halfway house.

Even though she won't be in a cell and watched by armed guards, there are still rules she must follow, including being subjected to periodical drug tests. Abby will be able to receive visitors in a designated area.

Miller will have to go through orientation during her first week in the house. After then, she will be able to go outside the facility to work without having to wear an electronic monitoring device, but she must abide by the curfew rules.

Unlike being in federal prison, Miller must pay for her own housing and medical care. She must also give the halfway house a cut of her pay no matter how minimal it might be.

Before going to prison, Miller expressed concerns about how life would be once her sentence was over. As ironic as it sounds, she said she was more fearful coming out than going in.

No doubt, the media is going to want her to tell about her time in federal prison and in the halfway house. Therefore, the networks are already working on trying to get the first interview with her. No matter which one she chooses to tell her story to, the public will see less of her when she comes out than when she went in because she reportedly has lost 100 pounds after having gastric bypass surgery last spring.
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