Stamford Prostitution Lawyer
If you are facing prostitution charges in Connecticut, you should be aware that you have many options available to help defend yourself. Although a conviction for engaging in prostitution can result in jail time, fines, and probation, there are often ways to minimize your sentence.
While the social stigma attached to these convictions can be damaging, there are also ways to avoid these consequences with the help of an experienced criminal lawyer.
Our Stamford prostitution lawyers are experienced in defending all sorts of clients within area of the law, and can help you understand your rights and any affirmative defenses that may be available to you with compassion.
Do You Need An Attorney
Cases involving prostitution charges often move quickly, making the assistance of an attorney at the early stages of the investigation following an arrest very important. Defendants that have been accused of prostitution as the result of a misunderstanding, or by simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time, will need legal representation immediately to protect their rights.
Those arrested for engaging in prostitution have various options to defend against these charges, including the availability of certain affirmative defenses.
An experienced prostitution attorney can determine the best possible defenses to raise to avoid criminal penalties based on the circumstances that led to the initial arrest.
The law allows those accused of prostitution to avoid jail time in certain circumstances, including by showing that they were engaged in prostitution as a result of coercion or threats made by another person.
Prostitution Laws in Connecticut
Under Connecticut law, prostitution is defined as offering to engage or engaging in sexual conduct with another person for money. A person under the age of 16 cannot be charged with prostitution. Pursuant to C.G.S. § 53a-82, engaging in prostitution is a class A misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.
Defenses to prostitution include duress, coercion, and being the victim of human trafficking. Connecticut law presumes that a person who is 16 or 17 years of age who is engaged in prostitution is a victim of human trafficking.
A skilled lawyer may be able to present enough evidence to show that any alleged acts of prostitution occurred as a result of threats or coercion by another, thereby leading the prosecution to turn their focus to the true criminals organizing the prostitution enterprise.
Pursuant to C.G.S. § 53a-192a, trafficking in persons consists of using force, the threat of force, fraud, or coercion to compel or induce another person to engage in conduct involving more than one occurrence of sexual contact with a third party. Trafficking in persons is a class B felony offense, punishable by up to a 20-year prison sentence, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.
While law enforcement in Connecticut regularly arrests people engaged in prostitution, those who organize and run prostitution rings, (sometimes referred to as “pimps”), are usually the targets of police operations.
Those who profit from prostitution and organize prostitution enterprises are zealously prosecuted in Connecticut. Police conduct sting operations in areas where prostitution is common in order to catch these individuals, which often results in the arrest of alleged prostitutes as well.
With experienced legal help from a prostitution attorney in Stamford, alleged prostitutes can often negotiate a lesser sentence in exchange for helping law enforcement bring serious charges against those who truly profit from these illicit activities.
Contact an Attorney Today
If you have been accused of prostitution in the Stamford area, you need to obtain the legal representation of a prostitution lawyer in Stamford as soon as possible. There are many ways to defend against these charges, as well as to avoid the damaging effects a conviction can have on your personal and professional life.
It is important to speak with an attorney who understands Connecticut’s prostitution laws as soon as possible after an arrest to ensure you fully understand the charges against you and your legal rights.