Is prostitution legal in Kentucky?
Kentucky prostitution laws make prostitution illegal through escort services, massage parlors, and strip clubs throughout the state. It is also a crime to simply benefit from the sex trade.
Prostitution Laws of Kentucky
- 529.010: Definitions
- 529.020: Prostitution
- 529.030: Promoting prostitution in the first degree
- 529.040: Promoting prostitution in the second degree
- 529.050: Promoting prostitution in the third degree
- 529.060: Corroboration
- 529.070: Permitting prostitution
- 529.080: Loitering for prostitution purposes
- 529.090: Person convicted required to submit to screening for HIV infection -- Prostitution or procuring prostitution with knowledge of sexually transmitted disease or HIV
529.010: Definitions
The following definitions apply in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Advancing prostitution" -- A person "advances prostitution" when acting other than as a prostitute or as a patron thereof, he knowingly causes or aids a person to engage in prostitution, procures or solicits patrons for prostitution, provides persons or premises for prostitution purposes, operates or assists in the operation of a house of prostitution or a prostitution enterprise, or engages in any conduct designed to institute, aid or facilitate an act or enterprise of prostitution.
(2) "Profiting from prostitution" -- A person "profits from prostitution" when acting other than as a prostitute receiving compensation for personally rendered prostitution services, he knowingly accepts or receives or agrees to accept or receive money or other property pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person whereby he participates or is to participate in proceeds of prostitution activity.
(3) "Sexual conduct" means sexual intercourse or any act of sexual gratification involving the sex organs.
529.020: Prostitution
(1) A person is guilty of prostitution when he engages or agrees or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee.
(2) Prostitution is a Class B misdemeanor.
529.030: Promoting prostitution in the first degree
(1) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the first degree when he knowingly:
(a) Advances prostitution by compelling a person by force or intimidation to engage in prostitution or profits from such coercive conduct by another; or
(b) Advances or profits from prostitution of a person less than eighteen (18) years old.
(2) Promoting prostitution in the first degree is a Class C felony:
(a) If it involves a violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section or if the minor so used is less than eighteen (18) years old at the time the minor engages in the prohibited activity;
(b) Class B felony if the minor so used is less than sixteen (16) years old at the time the minor engages in the prohibited activity; and
(c) Class A felony if the minor so used incurs physical injury thereby.
529.040: Promoting prostitution in the second degree
(1) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the second degree when he knowingly advances or profits from prostitution by managing, supervising, controlling or owning, either alone or in association with others, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business or enterprise involving prostitution activity by two (2) or more prostitutes.
(2) Promoting prostitution in the second degree is a Class D felony.
529.050: Promoting prostitution in the third degree
(1) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the third degree when he knowingly advances or profits from prostitution.
(2) Promoting prostitution in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
529.060: Corroboration
(1) No person shall be convicted of prostitution solely on the uncorroborated testimony of a patron.
(2) No person shall be convicted of promoting prostitution solely on the uncorroborated testimony of a person whose prostitution activity he is alleged to have advanced or from whose prostitution activity he is alleged to have profited.
529.070: Permitting prostitution
(1) A person is guilty of permitting prostitution when, having possession or control of premises which he knows or has reasonable cause to know are being used for prostitution purposes, he fails to make reasonable and timely effort to halt or abate such use.
(2) Permitting prostitution is a Class B misdemeanor.
529.080: Loitering for prostitution purposes
(1) A person is guilty of loitering for prostitution purposes when he loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of engaging or agreeing or offering to engage in prostitution.
(2) Loitering for prostitution purposes is a:
(a) Violation for the first offense;
(b) Class B misdemeanor for the second offense and for each subsequent offense.
529.090: Person convicted required to submit to screening for HIV infection -- Prostitution or procuring prostitution with knowledge of sexually transmitted disease or HIV
(1) Any person convicted of prostitution or procuring another to commit prostitution under the provisions of KRS 529.020 shall be required to undergo screening for human immunodeficiency virus infection under direction of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and, if infected, shall submit to treatment and counseling as a condition of release from probation, community control, or incarceration. Notwithstanding the provisions of KRS 214.420, the results of any test conducted pursuant to this subsection shall be made available by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to medical personnel, appropriate state agencies, or courts of appropriate jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Any person who commits prostitution and who, prior to the commission of the crime, had tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease and knew or had been informed that he had tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease pursuant to KRS 214.410 and that he could possibly communicate such disease to another person through sexual activity is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. A person may be convicted and sentenced separately for a violation of this subsection and for the underlying crime of prostitution.
(3) Any person who commits, offers, or agrees to commit prostitution by engaging in sexual activity in a manner likely to transmit the human immunodeficiency virus and who, prior to the commission of the crime, had tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus and knew or had been informed that he had tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus and that he could possibly communicate the disease to another person through sexual activity is guilty of a Class D felony. A person may be convicted and sentenced separately for a violation of this subsection and for the underlying crime of prostitution.
(4) Any person convicted of procuring another to commit prostitution in a manner likely to transmit the human immunodeficiency virus and who, prior to the commission of the crime, had tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus and knew or had been informed that he had tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus and that he could possibly communicate the disease to another person through sexual activity is guilty of a Class D felony.