Felicity Huffman released from prison: Why was she was allowed to leave early

Felicity Huffman is a free citizen again: The "Desperate Housewives" actress was released from federal prison on Oct. 25 after spending 11 days behind bars.

Although Huffman was technically released short of her 14-day sentence, NBC News reports that it's standard policy to allow inmates due out on weekends to instead leave on Fridays.

Huffman, 56, served her time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, Calif., which is about 40 miles from San Francisco. Upon her release, she will be supervised for one year and will begin her required 250 hours of community service. She's also expected to pay a $30,000 fine — twice the amount she paid to a faux college admissions counselor in order to get her daughter into college.

Huffman's family visited her throughout her prison stay. An onlooker snapped photos of Huffman and her husband, actor William H. Macy, taking a subdued walk together across the prison grounds.

"Felicity was resigned to the fact she has to pay her dues to society. She is looking forward to putting this all behind her," a source told ET. "Bill drove her there and dropped her off. Bill is supporting her and standing by her. He’s a rock and very supportive. She has a lot of family and friend support around her."

Huffman was remorseful and emotional in court during her sentencing in September. She took responsibility for her involvement in the college admissions cheating scandal that enabled dozens of teenagers, including her daughters, to falsify their university applications in various ways. In Huffman's case, a proctor was paid to correct her child's SAT score.

"In my desperation to be a good mother I talked myself into believing that all I was doing was giving my daughter a fair shot," she said in a statement. "I see the irony in that statement now because what I have done is the opposite of fair. I have broken the law, deceived the educational community, betrayed my daughter, and failed my family."

Still awaiting sentencing is "Fuller House" actress Lori Loughlin, who unlike Huffman pled not guilty and has, at this point, declined to acknowledge any wrongdoing. Additional charges were recently filed against Loughlin and her husband.