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In Delaware, prostitution is the act of engaging in, agreeing to engage in, or offering to engage in sexual conduct with someone else in exchange for a fee. "Sexual conduct" is defined as any act designed to produce sexual gratification to either party.
Additionally, the solicitation of prostitution (the act of seeking sexual services for hire) is also illegal in Delaware. Therefore, both the prostitute and the prostitute's customer can be prosecuted. This article briefly outlines Delaware's prostitution and solicitation laws.
Code Section |
Delaware Code section 1342: Prostitution |
What's Prohibited? |
Engaging in, agreeing to engage in, or offering to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee. |
Penalties |
Prostitution is generally a class B misdemeanor. However, offenders convicted of prostitution occurring within 1,000 feet of a school, residence, or place of worship is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. |
Code Section |
Delaware Code section 1343: Patronizing a Prostitute Prohibited (aka Solicitation) |
What's Prohibited? |
|
Penalties |
Patronizing a prostitute is generally a misdemeanor offense. However, offenders convicted of patronizing a prostitute occurring within 1,000 feet of a school, residence, or place of worship is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. |
In Delaware, any person convicted of prostitution or patronizing a prostitute is required to undergo testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The results of the STD tests won't be available to the public, however, the results will be released to the defendant, the defendant's spouse, and the court that ordered the tests.
Under Delaware's prostitution laws it is also a crime to promote prostitution. The crime of promoting prostitution is broken down into three degrees, depending on the severity of the offense.
First-Degree Promoting Prostitution:
Second-Degree Promoting Prostitution:
Third-Degree Promoting Prostitution: Knowingly advancing or profiting from prostitution.
It is also illegal in Delaware to permit prostitution. A person is guilty of permitting prostitution if they control or possess a premises that they know is being used for prostitution purposes and the person fails to stop that use within a reasonable period of time.
State laws change frequently. For case specific information regarding Delaware's prostitution and solicitation laws contact a local criminal defense lawyer.
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