{"id":11572,"date":"2024-09-06T15:58:57","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T22:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=11572"},"modified":"2024-09-19T08:29:24","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T15:29:24","slug":"solicitation-prostitution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/solicitation-prostitution\/","title":{"rendered":"Laws About Soliciting a Prostitute in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"
Prostitution is not legal in Phoenix, Arizona, or any other portion of the state. In addition to criminalizing the physical act of exchanging sexual services for a monetary fee, Arizona prostitution laws also forbid the solicitation of prostitution. Therefore, offering to pay money for sexual acts is punishable by law, regardless of if the intended acts occur.<\/p>\n
Since prostitution is legal in other parts of the southwestern United States, including ten counties in Nevada, some people wrongly believe that prostitution is legal in Arizona, too, which can lead to serious legal consequences. Understanding soliciting laws in Arizona is vital to avoid being charged with a class 1 misdemeanor or a felony for repeated offenses.<\/p>\n
If you have been involved in the solicitation of prostitution, consult a trustworthy criminal defense lawyer to get help navigating the corresponding legal process. With guidance and advocacy from an experienced lawyer, you can increase your chances of achieving the best outcome possible.<\/p>\n
In general, solicitation is defined as the act of requesting to obtain something from someone else. However, in criminal law,\u00a0solicitation<\/a>\u00a0is the\u00a0inchoate offense<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0offering money to persuade the other party to commit a crime<\/strong>. Some examples of illegal solicitation include:<\/p>\n Contrary to popular belief, the intended crime does not have to occur for an individual to face legal consequences\u2014the act of solicitation itself can be punishable by law. For example,\u00a0asking to exchange money for sex is a form of solicitation<\/strong>\u00a0that can lead to\u00a0prostitution<\/a>, which is the actual act of engaging in sexual services for payment; a solicitor can still be charged with prostitution even if sexual acts did not occur.<\/p>\n ARS 13-3214<\/a>\u00a0declares that\u00a0it is unlawful for someone in Arizona to knowingly participate in prostitution<\/strong>\u00a0unless they were a victim of sex trafficking during that time.<\/p>\n While there are no state-wide laws that are specific about soliciting a prostitute,\u00a0ARS 13-3211<\/a>\u00a0defines prostitution as engaging in, agreeing, or\u00a0offering<\/strong>\u00a0sexual services for a fee arrangement, meaning anyone that solicits a prostitute can be criminally charged<\/a> with prostitution even if the intended sexual acts do not happen.<\/p>\n ARS 13-3214<\/a>\u00a0allows cities or towns throughout Arizona to pass and implement their own prostitution-related legislation<\/strong>\u00a0that further suppresses the crime, as long as those ordinances impose punishments for misdemeanor violations that are at least as severe as their state-wide counterparts.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, most major cities follow suit by matching the state-wide punishments. For example,\u00a0Article 4, 23-52<\/a>\u00a0of Phoenix\u2019s municipal code deems solicitation of a prostitute illegal and imposes the same penalties described in the Arizona Revised Statutes.<\/p>\n ARS 13-115<\/a>\u00a0states that in a criminal case,\u00a0a defendant is presumed innocent until the opposite is demonstrated<\/strong>. If there is reasonable doubt about whether the defendant is guilty, they are entitled to be acquitted.<\/p>\n Therefore, the state must prove certain things before declaring someone guilty of engaging in prostitution. Some examples of things the prosecution must prove are:<\/p>\n You may face legal consequences if the prosecutor can demonstrate the requirements mentioned above. Consult a highly qualified criminal defense attorney to discuss your case and increase your chances of obtaining the best possible outcome.<\/p>\n ARS 13-3214<\/a>\u00a0outlines the various penalties and sentencing associated with prostitution and its solicitation. Some potential legal consequences someone can face for soliciting prostitution are:<\/p>\n Moreover,\u00a0ARS 13-802<\/a>\u00a0declares class 1 misdemeanors can also result in fines up to $2,500, while\u00a0ARS 13-801<\/a>\u00a0states a felony can carry a fine up to $150,000. In addition to the financial penalties and jail sentences that can accompany these convictions, being found guilty of\u00a0soliciting prostitution can show up on your criminal record<\/strong>, potentially hindering employment opportunities and restricting travel.<\/p>\n With an experienced criminal defense attorney providing legal advice, you may be able to use various defenses to help your case. Some examples of common defenses used during criminal proceedings are:<\/p>\n To ensure that your defense is as strong as possible, contact a reliable lawyer who has experience dealing with other prostitution-related criminal cases.<\/p>\n Although solicitation and prostitution go hand in hand, they are not mutually exclusive; someone can be criminally charged just for offering to pay for sexual acts. Sometimes, these charges can compound if they overlap with other crimes. Some examples of related crimes that can serve as compounding factors include:<\/p>\n\n
Arizona Prostitution Laws<\/h2>\n
Varying Legislation Across Cities<\/h3>\n
What the Prosecution Must Prove<\/h3>\n
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Solicitation Penalties and Consequences<\/h2>\n
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Common Defenses Against Solicitation Charges<\/h2>\n
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Related Offenses and Charges<\/h2>\n