Orlando Prostitution Lawyer

Prostitution is often called a “victimless” crime, but Florida law enforcement doesn’t treat it that way. Under Florida Statute 796.07, prostitution is defined as “the giving or receiving of the body for sexual activity for hire,” excluding sexual activity between spouses. Both buyers and sellers face criminal exposure, and law enforcement actively pursues both sides of the transaction. Undercover officers may pose as a prostitute or as someone seeking to purchase services, and a completed sting interaction can result in charges even if no sexual act occurred. These operations are legally sanctioned, and any evidence gathered from them is admissible in court.

Florida Prostitution Charges, Penalties, & Consequences

Florida Chapter 796 covers a wider range of offenses than most people realize. Beyond the act of prostitution itself, the statute addresses lewdness (any indecent or obscene act), assignation (making an appointment for prostitution), solicitation (inducing or procuring another to commit prostitution), operating a location for prostitution, and deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution. Critically, assignation means the appointment itself can support a charge under Florida Statute 796.07 even if no sexual act ever took place.

Penalties for Engaging in or Purchasing Prostitution

Penalties escalate sharply with each offense. For engaging in or purchasing prostitution, a first offense is a second-degree misdemeanor carrying up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. A second offense rises to a first-degree misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. A third or subsequent offense becomes a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Solicitation carries steeper penalties from the start: a first offense is already a first-degree misdemeanor, a second offense is a third-degree felony, and a third or subsequent offense is a second-degree felony carrying up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Consequences Beyond Sentencing

The consequences don’t stop at sentencing. Florida courts must order mandatory screening for sexually transmissible diseases, including HIV, for anyone convicted of prostitution or procuring another to commit it. A conviction also creates a permanent criminal record that can affect employment, housing, and professional licensing. Florida law doesn’t generally require sex offender registration for these offenses unless a minor was involved. If law enforcement induced you to commit the offense, entrapment may be available as a defense, which shifts the burden to the state to prove you were predisposed to commit the crime independent of that inducement.