Florida criminal charge
Prohibiting prostitution and related acts in Florida
Prohibiting prostitution and related acts is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 796.07. Its classification is not fixed: Florida assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Fla. Stat. § 796.07.
How is prohibiting prostitution and related acts classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| General violation (other than solicitation) — first offense | Misdemeanor of the Second Degree | First violation of any provision of the section other than paragraph (2)(f). | Fla. Stat. § 796.07(4)(a)1. |
| General violation (other than solicitation) — second offense | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | Second violation of any provision of the section other than paragraph (2)(f). | Fla. Stat. § 796.07(4)(a)2. |
| General violation (other than solicitation) — third or subsequent offense | Felony of the Third Degree | Third or subsequent violation of any provision of the section other than paragraph (2)(f). | Fla. Stat. § 796.07(4)(a)3. |
| Soliciting/inducing/procuring prostitution (2)(f) — first offense | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | First violation of paragraph (2)(f), which prohibits soliciting, inducing, enticing, or procuring another to commit prostitution, lewdness, or assignation. | Fla. Stat. § 796.07(5)(a)1. |
| Soliciting/inducing/procuring prostitution (2)(f) — second offense | Felony of the Third Degree | Second violation of paragraph (2)(f). | Fla. Stat. § 796.07(5)(a)2. |
| Soliciting/inducing/procuring prostitution (2)(f) — third or subsequent offense | Felony of the Second Degree | Third or subsequent violation of paragraph (2)(f). | Fla. Stat. § 796.07(5)(a)3. |
| Massage establishment violation of (2)(a) — first offense reclassified | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | First violation of (2)(a) involving a massage establishment licensed or required to be licensed, reclassifying the otherwise second-degree misdemeanor to first-degree misdemeanor. | Fla. Stat. § 796.07(7)(a) |
| Massage establishment violation of (2)(a) — second offense reclassified | Felony of the Third Degree | Second violation of (2)(a) involving a massage establishment licensed or required to be licensed, reclassifying the otherwise first-degree misdemeanor to third-degree felony. | Fla. Stat. § 796.07(7)(b) |
| Massage establishment violation of (2)(a) — third or subsequent offense reclassified | Felony of the Second Degree | Third or subsequent violation of (2)(a) involving a massage establishment licensed or required to be licensed, reclassifying the otherwise third-degree felony to second-degree felony. | Fla. Stat. § 796.07(7)(c) |
Common questions about prohibiting prostitution and related acts in Florida
Is prohibiting prostitution and related acts a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: prohibiting prostitution and related acts ranges from a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree to a Felony of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 796.07.
General violation (other than solicitation) — first offense: Misdemeanor of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 796.07(4)(a)1.) · General violation (other than solicitation) — second offense: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 796.07(4)(a)2.) · General violation (other than solicitation) — third or subsequent offense: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 796.07(4)(a)3.) · Soliciting/inducing/procuring prostitution (2)(f) — first offense: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 796.07(5)(a)1.) · Soliciting/inducing/procuring prostitution (2)(f) — second offense: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 796.07(5)(a)2.) · Soliciting/inducing/procuring prostitution (2)(f) — third or subsequent offense: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 796.07(5)(a)3.) · Massage establishment violation of (2)(a) — first offense reclassified: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 796.07(7)(a)) · Massage establishment violation of (2)(a) — second offense reclassified: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 796.07(7)(b)) · Massage establishment violation of (2)(a) — third or subsequent offense reclassified: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 796.07(7)(c))
Which Florida statute covers prohibiting prostitution and related acts?
Prohibiting prostitution and related acts is governed by Fla. Stat. § 796.07 (Prohibiting prostitution and related acts).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.