Lori Loughlin could be released from prison in time for Christmas

By Good Morning America

Lori Loughlin may be able to celebrate Christmas with family after all.

The former "Full House" star, who is scheduled to leave prison on Sunday, Dec. 27, could be released early due to a Bureau of Prison policy pertaining to weekend release dates.

According to the policy, an inmate whose release date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday is eligible to be released on the last preceding weekday barring an exclusionary reason. In Loughlin's case, that would be Thursday, Dec. 24.

Loughlin, 56, reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, on Oct. 30 to serve a two-month sentence for her role in the "Varsity Blues" scandal. Loughlin surrendered to authorities at FCI three weeks early after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office and will not seek early release for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the health crisis, Loughlin will spend her first two weeks in quarantine in accordance with the prison's new policies meant to contain the spread of the disease.

"Lori does not have access to email or possibly even phone calls," Jennifer Myers, a prison consultant, told "Good Morning America." "She's having meals sent to her."

"She's in one room with no other roommates," Myers added of Loughlin's likely conditions during quarantine. "They can possibly go out a little bit on the [recreation] yard for a few minutes but other than that, they're basically on lockdown."

Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer husband Mossimo Giannulli, were accused of paying $500,000 to get their daughters into the University of Southern California as crew recruits even though neither girl had ever rowed competitively. The couple entered guilty pleas on conspiracy charges in May, and by doing so, they dropped previous assertions that their payments were charitable and prosecutors had withheld exculpatory evidence.

Giannulli is expected to turn himself in to begin his five-month sentence on Nov. 19.

Prosecutors have charged more than 50 suspects, including actress Felicity Huffman, in the investigation. Huffman served 11 days behind bars last year.