Illegal Sexual Services
California state law considers sexual intercourse and acts of prositution illegal. Penal Code 647b states that illegal sexual services include: soliciting sex work, agreeing to sex work and getting paid or paying for sex work. The law applies to both the person that offers the sex act and also the person who buys (or attempts to buy) sexual services.
In California, an act of prostitution to take place without any form of money exchanged. This makes spotting prostitution and defining it as an illegal offense hard to navigate. In addition, soliciting by using authority or force can also be punishable under this code. Depending on past offenses and context of the crime, defendants can receive various punishments. Under Penal Code 647b, first time guilty offenders can face up to 6 months in jail. The more offense one has that violates Penal Code 647b, the more penalties they will face. A third violation of this crime is a minimum sentence of at least 90 days.
Laws regarding sex work differe with jurisdictions. Given the specific laws in California, legal defense is helpful in navigating the different laws in place. For example, not all those associated with sex work wold be registered as a sex offender if found guilty. In order to protect yourself, legal defense is paramount.
