West Virginia Prostitution and Solicitation Laws
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated June 20, 2016
West Virginia prohibits prostitution (having sex for money) and a number of prostitution related crimes such as solicitation (patronizing a prostitute), pandering (recruiting prostitutes), and pimping (receiving support from prostitution). Penalties include prison times of up to 1 year and fines of up $500. These penalties may be increased for subsequent offenses and some prostitution related crimes which involve minors. The following is a brief summary of West Virginia's prostitution and solicitation laws.
West Virginia Prostitution and Solicitation Laws
The following table outlines West Virginia's prostitution and solicitation laws.
Code Sections | W. VA. CODE § 61-8-5 et seq. |
What is Prohibited? | Prostitution and solicitation:
Maintaining a place of prostitution:
Detaining a person in a place of prostitution: Directly or indirectly keeping, holding, detaining, or restraining a person in a place of prostitution or attempting to do any of the above acts in an effort to force the person to remain a prostitute and pay off so-called debts. Pandering:
Pimping: Knowingly receiving support from prostitution proceeds. |
Penalties | Prostitution is punishable by up to 6 months in prison and up to $100 in fines. A second offense is punishable by up to 1 year in prison and up to $250 in fines. Any third or subsequent offenses by a pimp, solicitor, operator or person otherwise benefiting financially from prostitution are punishable by up to 3 years in prison. Maintaining a place of prostitution is punishable by up to 1 year in prison and up to $250 in fines. A subsequent offense is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Pandering or detaining a person in a place of prostitution is punishable by up to 1 year in prison and up to $500 in fines. A subsequent offense is punishable by up to 3 years in prison. If the person recruited or detained was a minor, it is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. Pimping is punishable by up to 1 year in prison and up to $500 in fines. For subsequent offenses, the crime is punishable by up to 3 years in prison. If the prostitute was a minor, the crime is a felony punishable by at least 2 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. |
West Virginia Prostitution and Solicitation Laws: Related Resources
If you or someone you know has been charged with prostitution or a prostitution related crime, you may want to consult with a West Virginia criminal defense attorney. You can also visit Findlaw's sections on Prostitution, Solicitation, and Pimping and Pandering Laws for more articles and information on these topics.
Next Steps: Search for a Local Attorney
Contact a qualified attorney.