Colorado Prostitution and Solicitation Laws

Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-7-201 (prohibiting prostitution)

Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-7-202 (soliciting for prostitution)

Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-7-206 (pimping)

Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-7-402 (soliciting for child prostitution)

Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-7-406 (patronizing a prostituted child)

Prostitution: Performing, offering, or agreeing to vaginal, oral, or anal sex, or masturbation with a person other than your spouse for money or anything of value.

This is a Class 3 Misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $50-750 fine. It increases to a Class 5 Felony if you agree to prostitution knowing you are HIV positive. A Class 5 felony is punished by up to 3 years in prison and a $1,000-$100,000 fine.

Patronizing a Prostitute: Having sex or sexual contact with a prostitute (not your spouse) or entering a place of prostitution with the intent to use the services of a prostitute.

This is a Class 1 Petty Offense punished by a $50-750 fine and up to 6 months in jail. It’s a Class 1 Misdemeanor if you have two or more prior offenses, punished by 6-18 months in jail and a $500-$5,000 fine. Patronizing a prostitute with knowledge you’re HIV positive is a Class 6 felony, penalized by 1 year to 18 months in prison and a $1,000 to $100,000 fine.

Prostitute Making Display: Furthering the practice of prostitution in any public place. This is a Class 1 Petty Offense, punished as stated above.

Soliciting for Prostitution: Soliciting another for prostitution, arranging meetings for prostitution, or directing another to a place of prostitution. Also illegal if done for a prostituted child.

This is a Class 3 Misdemeanor, in addition to the regular $50-$750 fine, a fine of up to $5,000 may be ordered, with those monies going to the prostitution enforcement fund. Solicitation of a child is a Class 3 felony punished by 4-12 years and a $3,000-$750,000 fine.

Pandering: Intimidating a person into prostitution or knowingly arranging prostitution. Also intimidating a child into prostitution or arrange for child prostitution is prohibited.

This is a Class 5 Felony, punished as stated above. Arranging a meeting for prostitution is a Class 3 Misdemeanor, but arranging for child prostitution is a Class 3 Felony. In addition, intimidating a child into prostitution is a Class 2 Felony which is the highest prostitution-related penalty punishable by 16-48 years, due to the doubling of the minimum and maximums for the child victims and violence involved.

Inducement of Child Prostitution: Inducing a child into prostitution by words or actions (other than the criminal intimidating of pandering). This is a Class 3 Felony with an increased presumptive sentencing range.

Procurement of a Child for Prostitution: Intentionally transporting or providing a child for purposes of prostitution. This is a Class 3 Felony.

Pimping: Knowingly being supported by the earnings of another person’s prostitution whether an adult or child. Whether pimping of adults or children, it’s still a Class 3 Felony.

Keeping a Place of Prostitution: Exercising control over a place use for prostitution, granting use of a place for prostitution, or permitting continued use of a place for prostitution once aware that’s how it’s being used. Also if done for child prostitution. Typically, this is a Class 2 Misdemeanor punished by 3-12 months in jail and a fine of $250-$1,000. However, if the place of prostitution is for prostituted children, it’s a Class 3 Felony.

AIDS Testing: Persons convicted of prostitution or patronizing a prostitute will be ordered to be tested for HIV/AIDS.

Sex Offender Registry: If convicted of any of the child prostitution laws, you’ll be required to register as a sex offender for life in Colorado.

It’s NOT a defense to a child prostitution charge that a defendant didn’t know the child’s age or reasonably believed the child to be 18 years or older.

Being a victim of human trafficking is an affirmative defense to prostitution.