New Orleans Prostitution Defense Attorney
If you have been arrested for prostitution in New Orleans, go to our prostitution defense page for more information.
Below is a comprehensive list of Louisiana prostitution Laws:
What are the prostitution laws in Louisiana?
By Legal Definition In Louisiana, Prostitution Is:
(1) The practice by a person of indiscriminate sexual intercourse with others for compensation.
(2) The solicitation by one person of another with the intent to engage in indiscriminate sexual intercourse with the latter for compensation.
Sexual Intercourse means anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse.
Penalties
First Conviction: Fined not more than $500.00 or be imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
Second Conviction: Fined $250.00 dollars to $2,000.00 or be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than 2 years, or both.
Third or Subsequent Conviction: Imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for 2 to 4 years and shall be fined $500.00 to $5,000.00
Cleansing Period
In the state of Louisiana, there is a 5 year period before prior prostitution arrests will not affect the sentencing of a current prostitution conviction. In other words, if your second arrest for prostitution is more than 5 years following your first, you will be charged according to the sentencing guidelines for first offense prostitution charges in the state of Louisiana.
Prostitution Involving Persons Under Seventeen
It is illegal for:
Any person over the age of 17 to engage in sexual intercourse with any person under the age of 17 who is practicing prostitution, and there is an age difference of greater than 2 years between the two persons.
Lack of knowledge of the latter person’s age shall not be a defense.
It is illegal for:
Any parent of any person under the age of 17 knowingly to consent to the person’s entrance in the practice of prostitution.
As used in this Section, “sexual intercourse” means anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse.
Penalties
Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than two years nor more than ten years, or both.
Anyone convicted of Prostitution Involving Persons Under Seventeen, shall Register as a Sex Offender with the State for 25 years, to be conducted semi-annually.
Soliciting For Prostitutes
Soliciting for prostitutes is the soliciting, inviting, inducing, directing or transporting a person to any place with the intention of promoting prostitution.
Penalty
Whoever commits the crime of soliciting for prostitutes shall be fined $500.00, imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both. This is a misdemeanor offense.
Inciting Prostitution
Inciting prostitution is the aiding, abetting, or assisting in an enterprise for profit in which:
(1) Customers are charged a fee for services which include prostitution, regardless of what portion of the fee is actually for the prostitution services,
(2) When the person knows or when a reasonable person in such a position should know that such aiding, abetting, or assisting is for prostitution, and
(3) When the proceeds or profits are to be in any way divided by the prostitute and the person aiding, abetting, or assisting the prostitute.
Penalty
Whoever commits the crime of inciting prostitution shall be fined $1,000.00 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. This is a misdemeanor offense.
Promoting Prostitution
Promoting prostitution is the knowing and willful control of, supervision of, or management of an enterprise for profit in which customers are charged a fee for services which include prostitution, regardless of what portion of the fee is actually for the prostitution services.
Penalty
Whoever commits the crime of promoting prostitution shall be fined not more than $5,000.00 or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than 2 years, or both. This is a felony offense.
Prostitution By Massage
Prostitution by massage is the erotic stimulation of the genital organs of another by any masseuse, or any other person, whether resulting in orgasm or not, by instrumental manipulation, touching with the hands, or other bodily contact exclusive of sexual intercourse or unnatural carnal copulation, when done for money.
Penalty
Whoever commits the crime of prostitution by massage shall be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both. This is a misdemeanor offense.
Pandering
Is The Intentional:
(1) Enticing, placing, persuading, encouraging, or causing the entrance of any person into the practice of prostitution, either by force, threats, promises, or by any other device or scheme;
(2) Maintaining a place where prostitution is habitually practiced;
(3) Detaining any person in any place of prostitution by force, threats, promises;
(4) Receiving or accepting by a person anything of value which is known to be from the earnings of any person engaged in prostitution;
(5) Consenting, on the part of any parent or tutor of any person, to the person’s entrance in the practice of prostitution; or
(6) Transporting any person from one place to another for the purpose of promoting the practice of prostitution.
Penalties
Whoever commits the crime of pandering shall be fined not more than $5,000.00 , imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than 5 years, or both. This is a felony offense.
Anyone convicted of Pandering when the victim is under the age of 18, shall Register as a Sex Offender with the state for 25 years, to be conducted annually.
Letting Premises For Prostitution
Letting premises for prostitution is the granting of the right of use of any premises, knowing that they are to be used for the practice of prostitution, or allowing the continued use of the premises with such knowledge.
Penalty
Whoever commits the crime of letting premises for prostitution shall be fined not more than $500.00, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both. This is a misdemeanor offense.
Enticing Persons Into Prostitution
Enticing persons into prostitution is committed when any person over the age of 17 entices, persuades, encourages, or causes the entrance of any other person under the age of 21 into the practice of prostitution, either by force, threats, promises.
Lack of knowledge of the other person’s age shall not be a defense.
Penalties
Whoever commits the crime of enticing persons into prostitution shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than two years nor more than ten years. This is a felony offense.
Anyone convicted of enticing a minor into prostitution shall Register as a Sex Offender with the state for 25 years, to be conducted semi-annually.
Disclaimer:
Laws and policies can change at any time rendering the above information outdated or non-applicable. We strongly encourage you to look at City, Parish, and State statutes for the most recent laws and to consult a Louisiana licensed attorney.