The Los Angeles Criminal Law Blog

The Wonderful World of Prostitution

By Laura Fishman on December 30, 2009 9:16 AM | No TrackBacks

Everyone in California should be aware that prostitution, solicitation, pandering and loitering are all against the law. Licensed prostitution houses are legal in certain regions of Nevada, but here in the golden state, the law has no tolerance for such behavior. In large cities like Los Angeles, people are often wrongfully arrested on prostitution charges for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Luckily, there are many criminal lawyers in Los Angeles that specialize in prostitution and solicitation cases.

California penal code section 653.20 defines prostitution as engaging in sexual conduct in exchange for money or other consideration. It does not include sexual conduct engaged in as part of a stage performance, play or other entertainment open to the public.


In California, both the prostitute and the person who hires the prostitute can be prosecuted for the crime. The act of prostitution is punishable with a misdemeanor offense for first time offenders, but can  be charged as a felony for subsequent offenses. Those convicted of prostitution can be punished with jail time, probation, fines, community service, counseling, and AIDS testing.

How do police officers arrest individuals for prostitution? Los Angeles law enforcers have many tricks up there sleeves to catch people engaging in the act. Sometimes police officers will wear provocative clothing to pose as a prostitute in order to lure the “customers,” where the individuals will subsequently be arrested for prostitution. On the other side, police will also sometimes pose as customers seeking to find sex for hire, and then end up arresting the alleged prostitutes.
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