Boston Prostitution & Solicitation Defense Lawyer

A conviction on prostitution and solicitation charges can entail punishment that includes jail or prison time and a mandatory fine. Certain convictions require registration with the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB), which can severely limit employment, housing, and educational opportunities. Cracking down on human trafficking and child trafficking involving sexual servitude are also major initiatives recently taken on by state and federal task forces across Massachusetts. Law enforcement operatives are investigating chat rooms, online solicitations and ads, massage parlors, and other venues.

If you have been charged with any of these crimes, talk to a skilled Boston sex crime lawyer at Sweeney and Associates, LLC, as soon as possible. We offer a free consultation.

Is Prostitution Legal in Massachusetts?

Performing or engaging in sexual conduct for a fee, also known as prostitution, is not legal in the state of Massachusetts. In addition, offering to engage in sexual conduct in return for a fee is also illegal, which means that whether you are the person giving or receiving the fee, you can be charged with a crime.

Defending Against Prostitution Charges in Quincy and Boston

At Sweeney & Associates, LLC, our Boston prostitution lawyers have defended clients in Quincy, Boston, and throughout Massachusetts for more than 20 years. Our attorneys fight felony and misdemeanor sex charges in state and federal courts.

Being charged with a prostitution or solicitation crime can put you and your family in the media spotlight, especially when multiple people are arrested as part of a coordinated undercover investigation. Keeping our clients out of the media spotlight and being as discreet as possible is always our main priority. 

When you are facing accusations in Quincy District Court or other local courts in the Boston area, it is normal to feel overwhelmed, embarrassed, and unsure of your options. As a prostitution attorney, Quincy residents can turn to for guidance. We take time to explain the charges, potential penalties, and realistic strategies so that you can make informed decisions about how to proceed.

What To Expect When You Work With Our Firm

From the moment you contact us, we focus on gathering the facts, protecting your privacy, and providing clear advice on what will happen next in your case. We will review the police report, any evidence collected during stings or undercover operations, and your version of events to identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case. In Quincy and surrounding courts, prostitution cases often move quickly, so we explain each stage of the process, from arraignment through potential pretrial hearings and trial, so that you know what to expect and how to prepare.

During the investigation and court process, we maintain regular communication, answer your questions, and prepare you for key appearances, such as your arraignment and any motion hearings. When appropriate, we also discuss collateral issues that may arise from prostitution charges, including immigration concerns, professional licensing problems, or college disciplinary actions, and we coordinate with other professionals when needed. By approaching your case in this comprehensive way, a prostitution lawyer Quincy clients choose can help them evaluate the risks and benefits of each possible path, whether that involves negotiation, seeking alternative dispositions, or litigating the case in front of a judge or jury.

Types of Prostitution/Solicitation Charges & Their Penalties

If you made an offer or an agreement to engage in a sexual act or received any compensation for soliciting a prostitute, you need to hire a dedicated legal defense team immediately. The penalties you face are not light, but they can sometimes be mitigated and possibly dismissed with the right defense.

Penalties for prostitution and solicitation include:

• Prostitution - Up to six months in jail
• Solicitation of a prostitute - Up to 2.5 years in jail
• Detaining, or drugging to detain, a person in a place for prostitution - Up to five years in state prison, or a minimum of one year and up to 2.5 years in jail
• Being the owner or assisting in the management of a place that causes another person to engage in unlawful sexual intercourse - Up to five years in state prison with a mandatory minimum of two years
• Enticing away a person for prostitution or sexual intercourse - Up to three years in state prison or up to one year in jail
• Sharing or living off earnings of a prostitute - Mandatory minimum five years in state prison
• Sharing or living off earnings of a minor prostitute - Mandatory minimum of five years in state prison
• Inducing a minor into prostitution - Mandatory minimum of three years and up to five years in state prison

Some of the solicitation and prostitution crimes listed above require you to register as a sex offender upon conviction. The penalties for the above can also include paying a fine of up to $5,000, depending on the type of crime for which you were convicted.

Contacting an attorney who is knowledgeable in these areas will prove invaluable. We are well aware of the severe consequences that accompany these types of sex crimes, and we will defend your case zealously to try to avoid a conviction that has a mandatory minimum sentence or that requires you to register as a sex offender.

For many first-time defendants, there may be alternatives to a straight guilty conviction, such as pretrial diversion programs, treatment-focused resolutions, or plea negotiations that seek to reduce the most damaging consequences. When we evaluate a case, we look closely at the strength of the evidence, the conduct of the police officers involved, and any constitutional issues that could support a motion to suppress or dismiss, so that you understand which options are genuinely available in your situation.

Can Prostitution Lead to a Human Trafficking Conviction?

More and more people accused of "pimping" prostitutes are also being charged with human trafficking sex crimes. Prostitutes now have more reason to accuse alleged pimps of coercive or oppressive actions because it is a defense to charges of being a prostitute if the person was forced or coerced into the situation.

In Massachusetts, the penalties for a conviction on a human sex trafficking charge include:

• Up to 20 years in state prison, but at least a mandatory minimum of five years in state prison if the victim is over age 18
• Up to life in state prison, but at least a mandatory minimum of five years in state prison if the victim is under age 18
• Required sex offender registration
• Up to a $25,000 fine
• Subsequent offense: up to life in prison, but at least a mandatory minimum of 10 years in state prison

Human trafficking allegations are often built on long-term investigations by specialized units, the use of confidential informants, and digital evidence gathered from phones, computers, and online platforms. A prostitution lawyer in Quincy that defendants retain must be prepared to scrutinize how that evidence was obtained, challenge unreliable statements, and address the unique stigma that comes with these accusations in local communities from Quincy to Boston.

Contact Our Boston Sex Crime Defense Team Today

Please contact us online or call us at (617) 300-0212 to speak with one of our lawyers confidentially. We are responsive 24/7, offer fixed and hourly billing rates, and accept all major credit cards.