"It's tough. It is," said Kathy, who saw her daughter on Tuesday. "It's just one hour a week: 30 minutes on Sunday and 30 minutes on Tuesday. We talk through glass."

"And this one" – gesturing to Nicky – "left in hysterics," Kathy added. "Nicky tried to keep the brave face but – I never see Nicky cry."

Nicky Hilton and her mother spoke to PEOPLE on Thursday about their visits to Paris Hilton in jail

"It's sad. It's like right out of the movies," Nicky said.
"The glass partition, the orange jumpsuit. Everything."

Nicky spoke of what she saw as the unfairness in Paris's case.

"What's annoying is all these people are going on television saying that she was drinking and driving," said Nicky. "She's not in jail for DUI. That's a big misconception. She's in jail for driving on a suspended license, just like the D.A.'s wife was. ... She got a $186 fine."

"There are no appeals – as Paris said. But the point is that I hope this will shine a light on everybody (in those jails). That's the positive," said Kathy. The jails, she said, "need financial help, and it's very sad to see what's going on in there."

Kathy adds: "I always believe that where there's a negative there's a positive. And I feel that maybe this whole ordeal can shed light on other people, and that really maybe everybody should be treated exactly the same. I don't care who you are. As Paris said, she's just going to do her time and try to make the best of it, and hopefully" – she paused, "I always believe there's a reason for everything."