Spodek Law Group

Brooklyn Prostitution Criminal Defense Lawyer

Prostitution is considered a crime in virtually every part of the United States. However, different states have different laws on the books as to how serious the crime is, and what kind of penalties a person faces if found guilty.

Those who face prostitution charges in New York State are looking at a Class B Misdemeanor. The act itself involves an agreement between two or more people to have one individual exchange sexual acts for monetary value. In other words, to have one person pay another to have sex with them is illegal in the state of New York. The definition of a sexual act can be rather broad as well. Some of the acts that may qualify as prostitution may include some acts between two people in which both are fully clothed. This is why it is so important to understand the broad range of what exactly prostitution is in New York.

What The Punishments Look Like

Engaging in prostitution can lead a person to face a potential penalty of up to a $500 fine and up to three months in jail according to FindLaw.com. Of course, those who are multiple offenders are more likely to face more severe penalties than those who are first time offenders.

While this is the potential sentence for someone who engages in prostitution themselves, there are many other types of charges that may stem out of similar activities. For example, it is also illegal to promote prostitution or to be involved in any kind of human trafficking. Those can be much more serious charges depending upon the circumstances. For example, sex trafficking is something that is considered a Class B Felony and can result in anywhere from three to twenty-five years in prison.

Why You Should Always Get An Attorney

This is a crime that certainly has a lot of gray area to it. There are even some who advocate that it should not be considered a crime at all. Thus far, they have not been able to get the laws changed to make prostitution not a crime, but they are still fighting that battle. Certain areas of the state of Nevada for example have made prostitution legal in that particular geographic area. Still, for places where it is not legal it is important to get an attorney right away if you face any such charges.

Legal representation in a matter as serious as a prostitution charge can be the difference between you walking away free or with only having to pay a small fine, and you facing jail time. Trying to represent yourself in any legal matter is a bad idea, but in this particular area of the law it may be worse still. A lot of people who would sit on a jury for a prostitution case would possibly think you were guilty before you even had the opportunity to defend yourself. Therefore, you do not want to take your chances with this one. Get a qualified attorney in your corner.

A good attorney can back you up in terms of what actually happened in the interaction you had with another individual. They can look through all of the evidence to see if there are reasons why you may not in fact have done anything wrong at all. In short, they can be your advocate when no one else may want to stand by your side. Defend yourself and your rights by getting a good attorney.