{"id":371701,"date":"2016-04-11T01:21:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/arkansas-law\/arkansas-prostitution-and-solicitation-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-05-28T13:40:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T18:40:03","slug":"arkansas-prostitution-and-solicitation-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arkansas-law\/arkansas-prostitution-and-solicitation-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arkansas Prostitution and Solicitation Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Arkansas Prostitution and Solicitation Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Nevada is currently the only U.S. state where the act of prostitution is legal. Arkansas prostitution laws criminalize the act of having sex for money. It\u2019s also illegal in Arkansas to offer to have sex for money or request someone to perform sexual acts for money.<\/p>\r\n

If law enforcement catches you doing any of these things, you\u2019ll face charges for prostitution or solicitation of prostitution<\/a>. Most of these offenses carry minor penalties, even if it\u2019s a subsequent offense. Some related sex crimes<\/a> carry felony charges with severe consequences, including having to register as a sex offender<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

This article explains Arkansas prostitution laws. It also describes the penalties for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution before examining defenses to these offenses.<\/p>\r\n

Arkansas Prostitution Laws at a Glance<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

It can be challenging to navigate the dense legalese of Arkansas criminal statutes. It\u2019s much easier to understand the charges you may be facing when you can read them in plain English. Below is a breakdown of Arkansas prostitution and solicitation laws.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Arkansas Prostitution Laws Code Section<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Arkansas Code Section 5-70-102<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

What’s Prohibited Under Arkansas Prostitution Laws?<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

A defendant is guilty of prostitution if they engage or promise to engage in sexual activity for a fee or something of value.
\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Definition of Sexual Activity Under Arkansas Prostitution Laws <\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Sexual activity is any form of sexual intercourse, deviant sexual activity, or sexual contact.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Penalties Under Arkansas Prostitution Laws <\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

    \r\n
  • First offense<\/b>: Class B misdemeanor<\/li>\r\n
  • Second (or subsequent) offense<\/b>: Class A misdemeanor<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Possible Defenses<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

An affirmative defense to this crime is being a victim of human trafficking.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Sexual Solicitation<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Not only is it a crime to perform sexual acts for money, but it is also a crime to solicit prostitution<\/a>. In Arkansas, it is a crime to either pay or offer to pay someone to engage in sexual acts.<\/p>\r\n

The table below outlines Arkansas’s sexual solicitation<\/a> laws.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Arkansas Solicitation Laws Code Section<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Arkansas Code Section 5-70-103<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

What’s Prohibited Under Arkansas Solicitation Laws?<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Offering or agreeing to pay a person to engage in sexual activity<\/p>\r\n

Soliciting or requesting a person to engage in sexual activity for a fee<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Definition of Sexual Activity Under Arkansas Solicitation Laws<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Sexual activity is any form of sexual intercourse, deviant sexual activity, or sexual contact.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Penalties Under Arkansas Solicitation Laws<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

    \r\n
  • First offense<\/b>: Class B misdemeanor<\/li>\r\n
  • Second offense<\/b>: Class A misdemeanor<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    A conviction of solicitation also results in a $250 fine.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Possible Defenses<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

It is an affirmative defense that the defendant was a victim of human trafficking<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Promoting Prostitution<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Under Arkansas’ prostitution laws, it is also a crime to promote prostitution by forcing someone to engage in prostitution, operating a house of prostitution, or advancing prostitution in some other way. Below is an outline of Arkansas’s laws against this sex crime.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Arkansas Promoting Prostitution Laws Code Section<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Arkansas Code Section 5-70-104 to 5-70-106<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

What’s Prohibited Under Arkansas Promoting Prostitution Laws?<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

First-degree<\/b>:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Knowingly advancing prostitution by forcing or coercing someone to engage in prostitution<\/li>\r\n
  • Advancing prostitution of a person who is less than 18 years of age<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Second-degree<\/b>:<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • Knowingly advancing prostitution by managing, supervising, controlling, or owning a house of prostitution involving two or more prostitutes<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Third-degree<\/b>:<\/p>\r\n

        \r\n
      • Having a financial interest in a premises being used for prostitution and failing to make reasonable efforts to stop it<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Penalties Under Arkansas Promoting Prostitution Laws <\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n