New York Prostitution Lawyer

Being charged with or even accused of engaging in prostitution can be extremely embarrassing and can negatively affect a person’s life and career. Prostitution charges are considered serious crimes in New York, and so any allegation or charge of prostitution must be taken very seriously.

It is troubling for many people to learn that police departments throughout New York will set up sting operations to catch prostitution, and this results in numerous innocent people being charged with a crime they did not commit and had no intention to commit.

If you have been charged with a prostitution offense, a New York prostitution lawyer can help explain the charges against you, negotiate with prosecutors and law enforcement officers. Contact a skilled prostitution lawyer who can defend your rights against these charges.

Prostitution Charges

New York Penal Code 230 specifically addresses prostitution and other related charges. Under New York Penal Code 230, “A person is guilty of prostitution when such person engages or agrees or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee.” The following are all prostitution charges a New York prostitution lawyer can help defend:

• Prostitution in the third-degree
• Prostitution in the second-degree
• Prostitution in the first-degree
• Promoting prostitution in the fourth-degree
• Promoting prostitution in the third-degree
• Promoting prostitution in the second-degree
• Promoting prostitution in the first-degree
• Compelling prostitution
• Sex trafficking
• Prostitution in a school zone

In addition to prostitution offenses, New York also has a separate criminal code for patronizing a prostitute. As explained in Article 230,

“a person patronizes a prostitute when: (i) pursuant to a prior understanding, he pays a fee to another person as compensation for such person or a third person having engaged in sexual conduct with him; (ii) he pays or agrees to pay a fee to another person pursuant to an understanding that in return therefor such person or a third person will engage in sexual conduct with him; or (iii) he solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct with him in return for a fee.”

This means that in many cases an aggressive prosecutor may charge a person with prostitution as well as patronizing a prostitute, which may increase penalties and fines.

Anytime a person has been charged with prostitution in New York, they should consider working with an experienced criminal defense lawyer who has experience representing those accused of prostitution.

Penalties for Prostitution in New York

New York classifies prostitution based upon the severity of the alleged crime. In New York, prostitution is often charged as a class B misdemeanor. However, prostitution in a school zone is a Class A misdemeanor and generally has stricter consequences. Anyone who is accused of and convicted of a prostitution offense can face any of the following penalties:

• Three-month prison sentence for a Class B misdemeanor
• A fine of up to $500 for a Class B misdemeanor
• A prison sentence of up to one (1) year for a Class A misdemeanor
• A fine of up to $1,000 for a Class A misdemeanor
• Registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA)

In addition, there are certain jobs that may be impacted by an accusation and a conviction of prostitution. For example, a teacher may have their teaching certificate and license revoked if a person is required to register as a sex offender.

Contact a New York Prostitution Attorney Today

If you have been accused of a prostitution-related charge, it is crucial that you contact an experienced and aggressive New York prostitution lawyer to defend your rights and freedom. A New York prostitution lawyer will have experience defending a wider array of prostitution charges and can help prevent you from going to jail, paying large fines, and having to register as a sex offender.