How Common Are Arrests For Prostitution And Solicitation Of A Prostitute In The State Of California?
The number of arrests just from misdemeanor prostitution in California alone is higher than what most people think. According to the California Department of Justice, in 2014 alone, 8,822 people were arrested in California for misdemeanor prostitution. Out of that number 4,313 arrests were in Los Angeles County. If you add other prostitution related charges such as pimping, the numbers are much higher.
How Is Prostitution Defined In The State Of California?
In California, prostitution is defined by section 647(b) of the Penal Code. Prostitution is defined as offering to and or agreeing to any lewd or sexual act between persons for money or other consideration. Other considerations can include goods or services such as drugs.
How Is Solicitation Of A Prostitute Defined In California?
In order to be charged with solicitation in California, two elements must be proven. One is that you solicited another person to engage in an act of prostitution, and that you did show a specific intent to engage in the act of prostitution. Both of those elements must be required for one to be charged with solicitation.
What Is Public Lewdness? Does That Fall Under A Sex Crime?
Lewd acts or public lewdness fall under California Penal Code 647(a) which states:
“Except as provided in subdivision (l), every person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor:
(a) Who solicits anyone to engage in or who engages in lewd or dissolute conduct in any public place or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view”.
Even though lewd acts fall under the broad category of sex crimes, being guilty of 647(a) doesn’t require you to register as a sex offender. One can be charged with 647(a) in conjunction with a prostitution or solicitation charge or it can be charged entirely as a separate crime just by itself.
What Is Considered Pimping And Pandering In The State Of California?
In the state of California, pimping and pandering is defined as follows:
“Any person who, knowing another person is a prostitute, lives or derives support or maintenance in whole or in part from the earnings or proceeds of the person’s prostitution.”
It basically means that if you know someone is a prostitute and you derive support or maintenance even partially from that person’s act of prostitution, then you can be charged with pimping. Pandering is just another term used to describe the act. If one knows another person is a prostitute and they introduce a third person to them for the sole purpose of prostitution they can be charged with pandering.
If you need information about California laws Regarding Prostitution And Solicitation Of A Prostitute, call the law offices of Arash Hashemi for an initial consultation at (310) 448-1529 or contact us online and get the information and legal answers you’re seeking. Our office is conveniently located in the Westside Towers in Los Angeles, within minutes of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, and steps away from the Expo/Bundy Station. We have flexible hours and weekend appointments, and we will visit you in jail to discuss your case.