Florida's prostitution statute applies to everyone involved in a transaction exchanging sexual services for money. You can be charged with prostitution if you purchase the service, provide it, arrange it or even provide transportation or premises that further a prostitution transaction.

The penalties for prostitution are the same for almost everyone involved. On a first or second offense, it is a misdemeanor with minimal jail time, probation and fines. On a third or subsequent offense, prostitution becomes a felony charge carrying up to five years in prison. Furthermore, those convicted of soliciting prostitution will also pay a civil fine of $500, which is separate from any criminal fine they may face. At the judge's discretion, repeat offenders may be sent to pretrial intervention programs or substance abuse programs, which can result in the case's dismissal.

In many cases, police set up undercover operations to entrap suspected prostitution operations, posing as customers at legitimate businesses like massage parlors and escort services. Prostitution is a crime that carries a great deal of stigma, even when everyone involved was an adult able to make free choices. A prostitution arrest can be extremely embarrassing, a fact that law enforcement is happy to exploit to get the upper hand. If you're charged with prostitution, you need the help of a smart West Palm Beach prostitution criminal defense lawyer to protect your relationships, your job and your reputation.

Balliro has substantial experience defending clients accused of prostitution and other sex-related crimes in South Florida. We prefer to take prostitution clients as early as possible in the case, so we can do as much as possible to minimize the effect on the client's life. If clients have not yet been arrested, our Miami-Dade prostitution criminal defense attorneys can negotiate with prosecutors for dropped charges or lesser charges, or at least arrange for clients to turn themselves in voluntarily, sparing them an embarrassing scene. After an arrest, we can get clients out on bail quickly, if necessary, and protect them from overreaching by law enforcement interrogators. And if appropriate, we will mount a vigorous defense at trial.

At Balliro, we have successfully defended literally hundreds of Floridians at criminal trials. Unlike some criminal defense law firms in South Florida, we don't automatically start plea negotiations after taking a case. Instead, our Fort Lauderdale prostitution defense attorneys comb through the cases against our clients to find mistakes and weaknesses that can destroy the case or substantially reduce charges. And because we understand that people get into legal trouble at all times, not just during business hours, that's when we're available -- at all times. Clients and potential clients can reach our Miami criminal defense attorneys 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

If you or a loved one is facing prostitution charges, you should contact Balliro as soon as possible for a free, confidential consultation. You can reach us anytime through the Internet or by calling us toll-free at 1-866-ARRESTED.