Passaic County Promoting Prostitution Defense Lawyers

Promoting Prostitution Attorneys in Paterson NJ

Soliciting or otherwise promoting prostitution is criminalized in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1. This law makes it illegal to engage in any form of sexual activity “in exchange for something of economic value”. This offense should be distinguished from the related charge of loitering for the purposes of prostitution. If you facing any form of prostitution offense or a drug offense like heroin possession, marijuana distribution, cocaine possession or possession of prescription drugs in Paterson, Wayne, Clifton or anywhere else in Passaic County, our lawyers are ready to fight your charge. Give us a call for a free consultation at 862-203-4070.

Soliciting Prostitution Attorneys in Clifton NJ

The State of New Jersey defines prostitution as “engaging in sexual activity in exchange for something of economic value” or the offer or acceptance of an offer to engage in sexual activity in exchange for something of economic value. “Sexual Activity” includes, but is not limited to, sexual intercourse, genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, and oral-anal contact. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1, it is a crime to solicit another to engage in prostitution.

  • Grade of a Solicitation Offense. If you were arrested for solicitation, you may be facing a disorderly persons offense, fourth degree crime or third degree crime depending on the circumstances surrounding your arrest. Generally, soliciting a prostitute or for soliciting a “John”, it is a disorderly persons offense. The charge is enhanced to a fourth degree felony offense, however, if you have a prior conviction for prostitution (i.e. this is your second or subsequent prostitution offense). In addition, if the solicitation involves someone who is under the age of eighteen, it is a third degree crime irrespective of whether the accused was aware of the prostitute’s actual age. Third degree solicitation also applies where the charge would constitute his fourth or subsequent conviction.
  • Penalties for Soliciting. For a disorderly persons offense of solicitation, the jail term is up to six (6) months and the fine is up to $1,000. A fourth degree solicitation, carries a potential jail term of eighteen (18) months in prison and a fine of $10,000. The jail exposure for a third degree solicitation is as high as five (5) years and the fine can reach $15,000. In addition, where the solicitation involved an automobile, the accused is subject to a six (6) month drivers license suspension.

Promoting Prostitution Defense Lawyer Wayne NJ

Promoting prostitution is likewise illegal, ranging from a crime of the fourth degree to a crime of the second degree. N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1(a)(4) defines “promoting prostitution” to include seven (7) activities:

  1. Owning, controlling, managing, supervising or otherwise keeping, alone or in association with another, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business;
  2. Procuring an inmate for a house of prostitution or place in a house of prostitution for one who would be an inmate;
  3. Encouraging, inducing, or otherwise purposely causing another to become or remain a prostitute;
  4. Soliciting a person to patronize a prostitute;
  5. Procuring a prostitute for a patron;
  6. Transporting a person into or within this State with purpose to promote that person’s engaging in prostitution, or procuring or paying for transportation with that purpose; or
  7. Knowingly leasing or otherwise permitting a place controlled by the actor, alone or in association with others, to be regularly used for prostitution or promotion of prostitution, or failure to make a reasonable effort to abate such use by ejecting the tenant, notifying law enforcement authorities, or other legally available means.

Promoting prosecution is a first degree crime where the prostitute is under the age of eighteen (18) or is the child of the accused. A prison term between ten (10) to twenty (20) years applies. It is a second degree promoting prostitution where the defendant knowingly engages in prostitution with someone he or she knows to be under the age of eighteen (18). The period of imprisonment for a second degree violation under 2C:34-1 carries five (5) to ten (10) years in jail. Third degree promoting applies where the defendant compels another to engage in prostitution, promotes prostitution of the defendant’s spouse, or the conduct falls within 1-3, 6 or 7 above. The penalties for third degree promoting are the same as those for third degree solicitation which is discussed above.

Paterson NJ Prostitution Defense Attorneys

There clearly is a level of dirtiness that many equate with prostitution. For this reason alone, a conviction for prostitution should be avoided if at all possible. We would be happy to discuss exactly how we would go about defending you and initial consultations are always without charge. Our office has been representing clients charged with various criminal offenses throughout Passaic County, in towns like Clifton, Wayne, Little Falls, Paterson, Passaic City, Woodland Park, Totowa for over a decade. Give us a call anytime 24/7 at 862-203-4070.