Minneapolis Prostitution Lawyer

The consequences of being convicted of prostitution can be long-lasting and affect your future opportunities. Thousands of people are involved in sex trafficking and prostitution, and many become involved with prostitution when they are minors and not yet legal adults.

It is important to fully understand the legal challenges when you are facing prostitution-related charges. The legal system is complex, and it is risky to navigate it alone, so the best thing you can do is hire a seasoned sex crimes attorney. A Minneapolis prostitution lawyer can help defend you in court.

About Local Laws

Under local law, first-degree sex trafficking is a felony. It is defined as operating a prostitution business or soliciting, inducing, recruiting, or procuring customers for a minor to be a prostitute. The penalties can be up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $50,000, or 25 years and $60,000 when there was more than one victim. Sex trafficking is in the second degree and a felony when someone is soliciting or inducing an adult to be a prostitute, promoting prostitution/receiving profits, or trafficking anyone. The penalty can be up to 15 years and a maximum fine of $40,000.

It is also a felony to hire a minor for prostitution, including engaging a minor under the age of 18 in prostitution or hiring or offering to hire them for prostitution. The penalties can vary based on the child’s age. For a child under 13, it is 20 years imprisonment and up to $40,000 in fines; for a child between 13-15, it is 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $20,000; and for a child between 16-17, jail time of up to 5 years and fines of maximum $10,000.

There are several related charges with lesser penalties. Permitting an unrelated child to live with oneself, knowing the child is a prostitute, has a penalty of up to one year imprisonment and $3000 in fines. It is a misdemeanor to engage in prostitution or hire or offer to hire an adult for prostitution, with penalties of 90 days jail time and a fine of up to $1,500 in public; in a private place, the penalty can be up to 90 days of jail time and a fine of $500 maximum.

Finally, it is illegal for someone to engage in prostitution, agree to be hired, or offer to be hired with an adult. In a public place, it is a gross misdemeanor with a penalty of jail time of up to 1 year and a fine of up to $3,000, and in a private place, it is a misdemeanor with a penalty of jail time up to 90 days and maximum $1,000 in fines.

It is important to hire a lawyer who is well acquainted with the different types of prostitution-related charges in Minneapolis and the varying penalties for each. A Minneapolis prostitution lawyer is well acquainted with the different types of prostitution-related charges and could build a strong defense where the judge determines you are not guilty or imposes minimal penalties.

Possible Defenses to Prostitution Charges

Many cases involve prostitutes who are actually victims coerced or intimidated into prostitution, and these people are typically able to avoid prostitution convictions. Courts may offer protections such as protection orders to children and adults who escape their forced conditions. Prostitution charges can be terrifying for a victim to face and may even feel hopeless, but it is important to consult with a knowledgeable Minneapolis lawyer because there may be hope after all.

Even if the defendant is not a victim, they still have possible defenses. One is entrapment where an undercover police officer enticed someone to engage in prostitution or related activities. Another is lack of probable cause, where the evidence for this defense shows there was no documented or explicit offer for prostitution and the police did not have probable cause to arrest the defendant. Finally, a due process defense can also be presented. A lawyer in Minneapolis with experience in prostitution cases could explore possible defenses and collect evidence.

Contact a Prostitution Defense Attorney in Minneapolis Today

When you need to defend yourself against prostitution-related charges, contact an attorney to explore your legal options. Do not risk a conviction by handling your case alone because prostitution cases can be sensitive, and the consequences can haunt you for the rest of your life. By calling a dedicated and experienced attorney at BK Law, you could receive truthful advice on how to proceed and have someone supporting your case from beginning to end. Reach out today for a consultation.