Prostitution Lawyer

Prostitution is the act of selling sexual contact for money or something else of value. Sex workers today usually have an online presence and arrange meetings with potential customers via the internet, but some work in brothels, massage parlors, and day spas. Street prostitution has become uncommon in most places, although it still exists.

Prostitution is often a misdemeanor but can be a more serious charge depending on the jurisdiction, evidence, and circumstances of the arrest. Contact an experienced prostitution lawyer from Price Benowitz for help resolving the charges in the most favorable way possible.

Understanding Prostitution Charges

In most jurisdictions, sex workers are not the only people who can face prostitution charges. Some states have eliminated laws making soliciting a prostitute a crime and folded solicitation into the definition of prostitution. In those states, an alleged or potential customer could be charged with prostitution.

Prostitution definitions usually encompass any form of sexual contact and sometimes also include sexual performance meant to arouse without contact. It is not necessary that an act occur, arranging to exchange a sexual act or performance for something of value is usually sufficient to support a prostitution charge. Arranging or promoting interactions between potential customers and sex workers is sometimes called pimping and also can result in prostitution charges.

Law enforcement efforts to eradicate prostitution often focus more on customers and the people who promote or employ sex workers. The sex workers themselves are often acknowledged victims of promoters or pimps, but they can still be arrested and face charges. Programs to provide services to people engaged in sex work exist in many states, and courts often direct defendants into these programs as an alternative to punishment.

A skilled prostitution defense attorney could find an appropriate program to assist an accused sex worker.

Severity of the Charges Depends on the Circumstances

When someone without a criminal record faces a prostitution charge, it is usually a misdemeanor. Repeated arrests for prostitution can lead to felony charges in some areas.

Activities related to promoting prostitution may be punished more harshly. These are often high-level misdemeanors or low-level felonies, depending on the jurisdiction. When there is evidence that the accused was involved in promoting sex with minors, the charges are often serious felonies with potential sentences that include prison, supervised probation, and registration as a sex offender.

Someone suspected of transporting sex workers across jurisdictions or coercing vulnerable people into sex work could be charged with human trafficking. Human trafficking charges are usually high-level felonies with very severe penalties. Anyone facing a human trafficking charge should immediately engage an experienced prostitution defense attorney.

Defending Prostitution Charges

The circumstances of the case and the specific wording in the criminal statute determine how to defend a prostitution charge, but certain defenses are effective in many cases. Proving a prostitution charge requires clear evidence of an intent to exchange sexual activity for something of value. Proof in these cases can be circumstantial, which offers the defense an opportunity to question whether the parties agreed to the transaction.

When the arrangement took place over the internet, a skilled defense attorney might challenge the way the law enforcement agency gathered evidence and managed the interaction since police must have a specific type of warrant to monitor internet activity. A failure to have a proper warrant or strictly adhere to it could lead a judge to dismiss a charge.

Investigations of alleged prostitution promotors or suspected sex traffickers often involve confidential informants, electronic surveillance, and executing search warrants. When the police do not follow proper procedures or infringe on a person’s civil rights during an investigation or arrest, a court may limit the evidence the prosecution can use or even dismiss a case.

Challenge Prostitution Charges With a Skilled Defense Attorney

A prostitution charge can lead to a criminal record, significant penalties, and damage to your reputation. Fighting the charge is a wise decision that can protect your future.

A local prostitution lawyer could help you prepare a vigorous defense. In some cases, they may be able to get charges dismissed. Reach out to Price Benowitz today to learn how a skilled attorney could help you.