What are the Pennsylvania Laws on Prostitution?

Pennsylvania Laws on Prostitution

Prostitution laws in Pennsylvania, like in most states, make it illegal to buy or sell sex. But what exactly does the law say? And what are the consequences if you break it? This article will break it all down in simple terms.

What is Prostitution?

Let’s start with the basics. Under Pennsylvania law, prostitution happens when someone pays or gets paid for sexual activity. It doesn’t matter if it’s a one time thing or done regularly as a business. Exchanging sex for money (or something of value) is prostitution.

The law also says you can be charged with prostitution for just agreeing to have sex for money, even if you don’t actually do it. And it’s illegal to offer or accept payment after the fact for sex that already happened.

Bottom line – if there’s an exchange of sex for money (or something else of value), that’s prostitution in the eyes of the law.

Selling Sex is Illegal

Under Pennsylvania law, it’s a crime to sell sexual services. This includes:

• Working as a prostitute
• Owning or managing a brothel
• Pimping (making money off prostitution)

It doesn’t matter if the prostitution happens regularly or just one time. Offering to have sex in exchange for money (or something else of value) is against the law.

Buying Sex is Also Illegal

But it takes two to tango. So in Pennsylvania, it’s also illegal to pay for sex. This includes:

• Hiring or trying to hire a prostitute
• Going to a brothel to buy sex

The penalties are the same whether you’re buying or selling.

Penalties for Prostitution

A first or second prostitution conviction is a misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to 1 year in jail
• Up to $2,500 fine

A third conviction bumps it up to a more serious misdemeanor. You could get up to 2 years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Four or more convictions makes it a first-degree misdemeanor. Now you’re looking at up to 5 years behind bars and fines up to $10,000.

If the person committing prostitution knew they had HIV/AIDS, it becomes a felony. That means up to 7 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Promoting Prostitution

It’s not just prostitutes and customers who can be charged. Anyone who promotes or profits from prostitution can face prosecution too.

This includes pimps, brothel owners, drivers who transport prostitutes, and anyone else who facilitates or benefits from prostitution. Even letting people use your property for prostitution can make you liable.

For first offenses, promoting prostitution is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years in jail and $5,000 in fines. Harsher penalties apply if minors or people with HIV/AIDS are involved.

Defenses

Fighting a prostitution charge starts with having an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side. While these cases can be tough to beat, possible defenses include:

• You didn’t agree to sex for money – For example, you were just discussing it hypothetically or joking around.
• Entrapment – You were unfairly pressured or coerced into committing a crime you wouldn’t otherwise have committed.
• Mistaken identity – You were mistaken for someone else.
• False accusations – Someone is falsely accusing you of prostitution or promoting it.

An attorney may also be able to get charges reduced or even dismissed by identifying procedural errors or problems with how the case was handled.

Getting Help

Being charged with a crime like prostitution can turn your life upside down. But an experienced lawyer can help minimize the damage. They’ll aggressively defend your rights at every step of the process.

Don’t go it alone against the power of the government. Get advice from a criminal defense attorney before making any decisions or statements about your case.

With an attorney on your side, you’ve got a fighting chance to reduce penalties or even get charges dropped. There are options, and skilled representation makes all the difference.