Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
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Aside from prohibiting prostitution itself, Oregon also prohibits a number of prostitution related crimes such as solicitation (paying for sex), pimping (promoting prostitution), and compelling prostitution. This is a brief summary of Oregon's prostitution and solicitation laws, including an explanation of the different types of crimes and potential penalties for a violation. Read on to learn more about how the Beaver State treats prostitution-related crimes.
The following table outlines prostitution and solicitation laws in Oregon.
| Code Sections | OR. REV. STAT. §§ 167.007, 167.008, 167.012, and 167.017 |
| What’s Prohibited? | Prostitution: engaging, offering, or agreeing to engage in sex for a fee Solicitation (a.k.a. patronizing a prostitute): paying, offering, or agreeing to pay a fee for sex Promoting prostitution: intentionally promoting prostitution and knowingly owning, controlling, managing, supervising, or otherwise maintaining a place of prostitution or prostitution enterprise, inducing or causing a person to engage in prostiution or remain in a place of prostitution, receiving or agreeing to receive money or property from a prostitution activity with knowledge that it was derived from such, or engaging in any conduct which institutes, aids, or facilitates a prostitution act or enterprise Compelling prostitution: knowingly using force or intimidation to compel a person to engage in or attempt prostitution, inducing or causing a person under 18 years of age to engage in prostitution, aiding another person under 18 years of age to engage or attempt to engage in prostitiution, or inducing or causing one's spouse, child, or stepchild to engage in prostitution |
| Penalties | Prostitution and solicitation are Class A misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in prison and up to $6,250 in fines. Promoting prostitution is a Class C felony punishable by to 5 years in prison and up to $125,000 in fines. Compelling prostitution is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,00 in fines. |
If you’re charged with a prostitution or a prostitution-related crime, it's in your best interests to consult with an Oregon criminal defense attorney. You can also visit Findlaw's sections on Prostitution, Solicitation, and Pimping and Pandering Laws for more information on these topics.
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