At the Law offices of R. Kent Haryett & Company, we understand that things can fall out of your control, leading to an arrest on prostitution and solicitation. If arrested and charged with offenses that involve the solicitation and prostitution, it doesn’t necessarily result in charges on your record.
Solicitation and prostitution laws are fairly loose and open to interpretation. If you have been arrested and charged with a prostitution or solicitation offense, the prostitution charge defense team at Haryett and Co. have the experience you will need to aggressively work on your behalf and refute the police’s charges and the prosecution’s case.
“Prostitution”, per se, is not a crime in Canada. That is, exchanging money for sexual services is not a criminal offense in Canada. However, several acts that are typically associated with prostitution are criminal offences. In general terms, it is not an indictable crime to purchase sexual favors, arrange to purchase sexual favors or express those intentions. However, if these acts or communications are carried out or attempted in public setting it is considered a criminal offence.
While prostitution may not be considered a criminal act in Canada, there are many other laws that make many of the activities that are associated with prostitution illegal.
For example, engaging in sexual acts in a public place is considered an offence that falls under the “indecent act” provisions of the criminal code. Engaging in an act of prostitution – even within the ‘privacy’ of a vehicle can result in a criminal charge.
Keep in mind, the exchange of sex for money is not a crime in itself. However, when prostitution occurs in a location that is regularly used for the purposes of prostitution. In these circumstances the location is deemed a “common bawdy-house”. It is illegal to run a common bawdy-house, to be caught in one without a lawful excuse, to work in one, or to allow one to be operated in a place or premise which you have control over. The simple invitation to a common bawdy-house is punishable by law
There are also statutes within the Canadian criminal code that address other ‘business aspects’ of prostitution. ‘Pimping’ is described as ‘living on the avails of prostitution’ and is a punishable with a jail sentence upwards to fourteen years. Other statutes in the criminal code make it criminal to induce, persuade, or force someone into prostitution both in and out of Canada.
Another serious criminal offense within prostitution is buying sexual favors from or communicating about buying sexual favors from someone under 18 years of age. This is an indictable criminal offence that carries with it a minimum term of six-months in jail.
The Soliciting Law (article 213 of the Canadian Criminal Code) defines soliciting as: ‘To communicate with another person, in a public place, with the objective of practicing prostitution.’
By this definition, under Canadian criminal code, it is illegal to solicit a client through the offer of sexual services. To accuse a sex worker of solicitation, the police have to prove that it is the sex worker who solicited the client.
If have been charged with the engagement of prostitution in a public place or solicitation of prostitution, your sentence could have heavy, long-term affects on your life for years into the future. Being charged with solicitation or prostitution can result in steep fines, jail time, mandatory counseling, forfeiture of your vehicle and being reported on national sex-crimes registries. Contact the prostitution and solicitation defence team at Haryett & Co. to take control of your unfortunate situation.
Serving Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Estevan, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Lloydminster, Humboldt, Martensville, Meadow Lake, Melfort, Melville, Weyburn, And Yorkton Saskatchewan,
