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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-346.01 — Prostitution; solicitation; commercial exploitation of a minor; penalties

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 3: Commercial Sex Trafficking, Prostitution, Etc, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-346.01

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-346.01Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
Any person who offers money or its equivalent to another for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts enumerated in § 18.2-346 and thereafter does any substantial act in furtherance thereof is guilty of solicitation of prostitution, which is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, any person who solicits prostitution from a minor (i) 16 years of age or older is guilty of a Class 6 felony or (ii) younger than 16 years of age is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is prostitution a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: prostitution ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-346.01.

Solicitation of prostitution (adult): class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-346.01) · Solicitation of prostitution from minor 16 or older: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-346.01) · Solicitation of prostitution from minor younger than 16: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-346.01)

Which Virginia statute covers prostitution?

Prostitution is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-346.01 (Prostitution; solicitation; commercial exploitation of a minor; penalties).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.