The act of prostitution is considered illegal, throughout the world. Maryland deals with all the prostitution related cases very strictly. This includes buying and selling of sexual favors, along with the act of pimping.
What is Prostitution?
Prostitution is a name given to the act of exchanging money or equivalent good for any sexual activity. This does not necessarily include a sexual intercourse, an anal or oral sexual activity for a monetary benefit is also considered as prostitution.
What is solicitation of prostitution?
Solicitation of prostitution means when an individual requests a prostitute or another individual to involve in sexual activity with them, in exchange of money. Solicitation of prostitute charges does not necessarily require the sexual act to take place, an agreement or exchange of money is enough to account it as a criminal offense.
What are the punishments for solicitation of prostitution, in Maryland?
According to the Maryland code, section 11 – 301, solicitation of prostitution is a criminal offense and the punishment for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution in Maryland, is one year of imprisonment along with a maximum fine of $500.
What is prohibited in Maryland?
Maryland forbids and penalizes the following acts, under the prostitution section of the criminal law:
- Human Trafficking:
- Human trafficking is the act of transferring, or transporting human, either by kidnapping them, deceiving them, or giving monetary benefits to the authoritative person of the victim. The purpose of human trafficking can be prostitution, sexual activity, force labor or slavery.
- Running a Brothel or House of prostitution
- A brothel is a place where people come to engage in sexual activities with a prostitute, in exchange of money. Running such places is illegal and the person is subjected to heavy penalties.
- Collecting the earning of a prostitute
- Receiving/collecting or taking profit from the earnings of a prostitute is considered as criminal offense in Maryland.
- Kidnapping a minor for prostitution
- Harboring or kidnapping a child, with an intention of prostitution is a serious criminal offense in Maryland.
- Selling a minor for prostitution
- Selling a minor for prostitution is a major criminal offense.
In Maryland, Punishments of Involving in any Prostitution act:
- Human Trafficking: Human trafficking charges vary with the level of criminal offense; however, the guilty individuals are subjected to 10 years of imprisonment or a fine of maximum $5000, or both.
However, if the victim is a minor; the guilty individual is subjected to 25 years of imprisonment along with a maximum fine of $15000.
- Running a Brothel or House of prostitution: One year imprisonment along with a fine of $500.
- Collecting the earning of a prostitute: Maximum imprisonment of 10 years along a maximum fine of $10,000.
- Kidnapping a minor for prostitution: kidnapping a minor is a major criminal offense and the guilty individual is subjected to 25 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $5000.
Selling a minor for prostitution: Selling a minor can lead an individual to maximum 5 years of imprisonment along with a maximum fine of $10,000.