Florida Statutes 796.07 – Prohibiting prostitution and related acts
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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(1) As used in this section:
For details, see Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(d), Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(e), Fla. Stat. § 775.082(4)(b) and Fla. Stat. § 775.082(4)(a)
(a) “Assignation” means the making of any appointment or engagement for prostitution or lewdness, or any act in furtherance of such appointment or engagement.
Attorney's Note
Under the Florida Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony of the second degree | up to 15 years | up to $10,000 |
| Felony of the third degree | up to 5 years | up to $5,000 |
| misdemeanor of the second degree | up to 60 days | up to $500 |
| misdemeanor of the first degree | up to 1 year | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 796.07
- Acquittal:
- Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
- A verdict of "not guilty."
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
- Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
- person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
- Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) “Female genitals” includes the labia minora, labia majora, clitoris, vulva, hymen, and vagina.
(c) “Lewdness” means any indecent or obscene act.
(d) “Prostitution” means the giving or receiving of the body for sexual activity for hire but excludes sexual activity between spouses.
(e) “Sexual activity” means oral, anal, or female genital penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another; anal or female genital penetration of another by any other object; or the handling or fondling of the sexual organ of another for the purpose of masturbation; however, the term does not include acts done for bona fide medical purposes.
(2) It is unlawful:
(a) To own, establish, maintain, or operate any place, structure, building, or conveyance for the purpose of lewdness, assignation, or prostitution.
(b) To offer, or to offer or agree to secure, another for the purpose of prostitution or for any other lewd or indecent act.
(c) To receive, or to offer or agree to receive, any person into any place, structure, building, or conveyance for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation, or to permit any person to remain there for such purpose.
(d) To direct, take, or transport, or to offer or agree to direct, take, or transport, any person to any place, structure, or building, or to any other person, with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that the purpose of such directing, taking, or transporting is prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
(e) For a person 18 years of age or older to offer to commit, or to commit, or to engage in, prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
(f) To solicit, induce, entice, or procure another to commit prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
(g) To reside in, enter, or remain in, any place, structure, or building, or to enter or remain in any conveyance, for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
(h) To aid, abet, or participate in any of the acts or things enumerated in this subsection.
(i) To purchase the services of any person engaged in prostitution.
(3)(a) In the trial of a person charged with a violation of this section, testimony concerning the reputation of any place, structure, building, or conveyance involved in the charge, testimony concerning the reputation of any person residing in, operating, or frequenting such place, structure, building, or conveyance, and testimony concerning the reputation of the defendant is admissible in evidence in support of the charge.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a police officer may testify as an offended party in an action regarding charges filed pursuant to this section.
(4)(a) A person who violates any provision of this section, other than paragraph (2)(f), commits:
1. A misdemeanor of the second degree for a first violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(b) A person who is charged with a third or subsequent violation of this section, other than paragraph (2)(f), shall be offered admission to a pretrial intervention program or a substance abuse treatment program as provided in s. 948.08.
(5)(a) A person who violates paragraph (2)(f) commits:
1. A misdemeanor of the first degree for a first violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(b) In addition to any other penalty imposed, the court shall order a person convicted of a violation of paragraph (2)(f) to:
1. Perform 100 hours of community service.
2. Pay for and attend an educational program as described in subsection (8), if such a program exists in the judicial circuit in which the offender is sentenced.
(c) In addition to any other penalty imposed, the court shall sentence a person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of paragraph (2)(f) to a minimum mandatory period of incarceration of 10 days.
(d)1. If a person who violates paragraph (2)(f) uses a vehicle in the course of the violation, the judge, upon the person’s conviction, may issue an order for the impoundment or immobilization of the vehicle for a period of up to 60 days. The order of impoundment or immobilization must include the names and telephone numbers of all immobilization agencies meeting all of the conditions of s. 316.193(13). Within 7 business days after the date that the court issues the order of impoundment or immobilization, the clerk of the court must send notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the registered owner of the vehicle, if the registered owner is a person other than the defendant, and to each person of record claiming a lien against the vehicle.
2. The owner of the vehicle may request the court to dismiss the order. The court must dismiss the order, and the owner of the vehicle will incur no costs, if the owner of the vehicle alleges and the court finds to be true any of the following:
a. The owner’s family has no other private or public means of transportation;
b. The vehicle was stolen at the time of the offense;
c. The owner purchased the vehicle after the offense was committed, and the sale was not made to circumvent the order and allow the defendant continued access to the vehicle; or
d. The vehicle is owned by the defendant but is operated solely by employees of the defendant or employees of a business owned by the defendant.
3. If the court denies the request to dismiss the order, the petitioner may request an evidentiary hearing. If, at the evidentiary hearing, the court finds to be true any of the circumstances described in sub-subparagraphs (d)2.a.-d., the court must dismiss the order and the owner of the vehicle will incur no costs.
(e) The Soliciting for Prostitution Public Database created pursuant to s. 943.0433 must include the criminal history record of a person who is found guilty as a result of a trial or who enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld, of paragraph (2)(f), and there is evidence that such person provided a form of payment or arranged for the payment of such services. Upon conviction, the clerk of the court shall forward the criminal history record of the person to the Department of Law Enforcement, pursuant to s. 943.052(2), for inclusion in the database. This paragraph shall stand repealed on January 1, 2024, unless reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature.
(6) A person who violates paragraph (2)(f) shall be assessed a civil penalty of $5,000 if the violation results in any judicial disposition other than acquittal or dismissal. Of the proceeds from each penalty assessed under this subsection, the first $500 shall be paid to the circuit court administrator for the sole purpose of paying the administrative costs of treatment-based drug court programs provided under s. 397.334. The remainder of the penalty assessed shall be deposited in the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund of the Department of Children and Families for the sole purpose of funding safe houses and safe foster homes as provided in s. 409.1678.
(7) If the place, structure, building, or conveyance that is owned, established, maintained, or operated in violation of paragraph (2)(a) is a massage establishment that is or should be licensed under s. 480.043, the offense shall be reclassified to the next higher degree as follows:
(a) A misdemeanor of the second degree for a first violation is reclassified as a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(8)(a) A judicial circuit may establish an educational program for persons convicted of or charged with a violation of paragraph (2)(f), to include education on:
1. The relationship between demand for commercial sex and human trafficking.
2. The impact of human trafficking on victims.
3. Coercion, consent, and sexual violence.
4. The health and legal consequences of commercial sex.
5. The negative impact of commercial sex on prostituted persons and the community.
6. The reasons and motivations for engaging in prostitution.
(b) An educational program may include a program offered by a faith-based provider.