Sex work in Arizona is a complicated legal matter. If you have been charged with buying or selling sexual relations, you could be facing significant consequences, including jail time and fines. You do not have to contest allegations of prostitution or sex work alone. If you are facing charges for prostitution, the skilled team at Grand Canyon Law Group can help you build a strong defense.
Reach out to an Arizona prostitution lawyer to learn more about your options. Under state law, prostitution is defined as the sale of sexual behaviors in exchange for money or something of equivalent value.
The state does not explicitly list the behaviors that can be considered sexual in nature, rather referring to all sex and sexualized physical contact as grounds for prostitution charges. There are also laws in Arizona that target individuals who facilitate these sexual relations between others.
Arizona establishes several penalties for alleged prostitution. Second offenses call for 30 days in jail, and third offenses require 60 days in jail. Prostitution is a Class 1 Misdemeanor, but this charge will be raised to a class 5 felony if the Defendant has been previously charged with prostitution four times or more. As a result, someone charged with prostitution may face up to four years in prison on top of paying court fees and fines.
When alleged prostitution involves a minor, charges are often more severe in nature. State law recognizes several different kinds of child prostitution, including:. Those convicted on child prostitution charges face felony consequences, with the exact class of felony varying based on the circumstances giving rise to the offense Causing, using, managing, or engaging in child prostitution is a Class 2 Felony punishable by incarceration, probation, and significant fines.
