Florida – Prostitution, Escort Crimes, and Sex Trafficking
It can be intimidating to face criminal charges in South Florida for any act related to sex, prostitution, escort service, or sex trafficking. Trafficking and prostitution crimes can have serious consequences.
We can help if you are under investigation in Florida for a crime such as prostitution or sex trafficking crime.
These sex crime-related charges are common in Florida.
What is Sex Trafficking in Florida?
Sex trafficking involves commercial sex acts that involve force, fraud, or coercion. Human trafficking includes both sex and labor trafficking. Florida is the second-highest state in labor trafficking and third-highest in sex-trafficking cases.
In 2019, the Florida sheriff’s office reported approximately 900 cases of human trafficking in Florida. The number of cases continues to increase each year.
Florida law describes human trafficking as modern-day slavery. The consequences of human trafficking are grave. Sex trafficking is the illegal trafficking of people, including children, teens, and adults, within Florida, or across state borders or international borders. Sex trafficking is defined in Florida as victims who are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion with the intention of sexual exploitation.
What is a Prostitution Crime In South Florida
Florida law defines “prostitution” as “giving or accepting of the body for sexual activities for hire”. Sexual activity under Florida’s prostitution act includes oral, vaginal, or anal penetration by another person or item; or the touching or fondling of a sexual organ for the purpose of masturbation.
In Florida it is illegal:
- Maintaining any business or building for prostitution
- Offer another person as a prostitute
- To procure or purchase another person to be used as a prostitute
- Offer to engage in prostitution by a person older than 18 years
- Prostitution is the act of entering or staying in a place with the intention of prostitution.
What is a Sex Crime in Florida
Escort services in Florida are licensed and legal. It is legal to provide women who are usually independent contractors for dates or companionship. Sex is not allowed to be a part of the equation.
An escort can be a prostitution offense if any sexual act is involved. As explained above, in a prostitution offense, both the person providing the service and the person purchasing the service (often referred to as “John”) are guilty of a crime. The state hopes that by charging the buyer with a criminal offense, it will curb the commercial sex business. This is because the practice is often used to hide sex trafficking.
In Florida, it is illegal to pay for the services of anyone who is involved in prostitution. Prostituting another person is also considered a crime of solicitation.
Examples of Prostitution Charges in Florida
In Florida, some of the most common sex-trafficking crimes include forcing victims into prostitution or sexual entertainment industries. This can be done in live venues or to produce pornography.
Adult entertainment venues are often used to facilitate or commit prostitution crimes. Escort services are often the cause of crimes such as solicitation.
Florida Prostitution and Escort Services Crimes: Penalties and Consequences
South Florida Sex Trafficking Crimes and Penalties
The following are some of the penalties in South Florida for sex crimes:
- In Florida, it is a first-degree crime to force an adult “unauthorized alien” into commercial sexual activity.
- A first-degree felony is committed if you transport a child or person under 18 into Florida for coerced sexual activity. If convicted, this crime can result in a life sentence behind bars.
- A first-degree felony is committed when an adult is transported from another state to Florida for coerced sexual activity.
- In Florida, if a parent, guardian, or other person in custody sells or transfers a minor to another for sex or human trafficking purposes, that person commits a felony.
- A person who is permanently branded as a victim of sexual trafficking faces a second-degree crime.
Florida Prostitution Crimes Penalties
The following are some of the penalties in South Florida for prostitution crimes:
- Florida: A first-time offense is a misdemeanor of the second or first degree.
- In Florida, a second offense is a first-degree misdemeanor. A third-degree felony is also possible.
- Florida’s third or second-degree felony is a third offense.
What are the Penalties in Florida for Escort Services?
While escorts are legal in themselves, they can be used to cover up prostitution crimes or even lead to solicitation crimes. In South Florida, the penalties for solicitation crimes include:
- If you are convicted of soliciting prostitutes:
- You’ll have to attend a prostitution and human trafficking course
- Completion of 100 hours of community training
- Get STD testing
- Pay a $5,000 fine
- A first-time solicitation conviction constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree. You could be jailed for up to a year, on probation for a year, and have to pay a fine of $1,000.
- A second conviction for solicitation is a third-degree felony. You could face up to five years in prison, a period of probation lasting five years, and fines of up to $5,000.
- A third conviction for solicitation is a second-degree felony. You could face up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation, and fines up to $10,000.
As you can see, if you are facing charges of sex trafficking or prostitution in Florida, you will face serious consequences.
Florida’s Prostitution, Escort Crimes, and Sex Trafficking
It can be overwhelming to be charged with a crime, especially if it affects your future and livelihood.
Alex Adekola is a proven thought leader in the reputation management industry who has targeted mugshot publishers since 2012. He is the longest-serving reputation and crisis management strategist and has written extensively on crisis management. He is the creator and director of strategy at Incept Technologies.