Get Legal Help Free Consultation. In state laws Section Section According to state law, any person who engages in fornication for money or an equivalent is guilty of prostitution, a Class 1 misdemeanor. But Virginia does not just forbid the act of prostitution itself, but any offer of prostitution with or without fulfillment. In fact, the mere offer of sexual services for money or an equivalent is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor, with sentencing similar to that of prostitution itself.
Contact a lawyer today for a free consultation. It is illegal, for example, to force another person to engage in prostitution. Finally, residents of Virginia that receive money from the proceeds of prostitution or panders prostitutes are guilty of a crime related to prostitution.
All compulsion and pimping crimes are Class 4 felonies in Virginia. Those that offer other persons money in exchange for sexual intercourse of any kind are guilty of solicitation, a crime authorities treat very similarly to prostitution itself. Virginia has also passed laws prohibiting the knowing ownership of a location used for prostitution, or employment at such a location with knowledge of prostitution at the location. Due to the fact that courts treat offers for sexual favors for money with the same penalties as if the acts take place, sting operations are common in Virginia.
This also allows prostitution lawyers in Virginia the opportunity to examine a case carefully for evidence of police entrapment. Such evidence, if found, can lead to the dismissal of a prostitution case. The specific penalties for prostitution in Virginia depend on the severity or nature of the crime itself. For example, the following penalties are common:. As it is classified as a felony, pimping or pandering is the only crime related to non-violent prostitution that carries a minimum prison sentence — two years.
Following an arrest for either prostitution or solicitation, State law requires the accused to undergo HIV and hepatitis C testing, along with mental health counseling and education on STDs. Results of these tests are reported only to the state Department of Health and the accused.
