Can You Face Prostitution Solicitation Charges for Hiring an Escort?

 Posted on January 23, 2025 in Criminal Defense

In Illinois, the legal difference between hiring an escort and hiring a prostitute is mainly based on the services provided and the specific intentions involved. While both involve paying for companionship, they can be treated differently under the law. If you have questions about solicitation charges, speak with an experienced Illinois criminal defense lawyer who can review your case and explain your options.

What Happens When You Hire an Escort?

If you hire an escort, it typically means you are paying someone for their companionship. People can hire escorts to accompany them to a social gathering, join them on a trip, or provide their company in any other scenario, without any explicit arrangement involving sexual services. As long as there is no exchange of money for sex, escort services are legal. If, however, the escort offers sexual services in addition to companionship as part of the paid arrangement, it could be considered prostitution, which is illegal.

What Happens When You Hire a Prostitute?

When you solicit a prostitute, it means you pay money, and in exchange, they provide sexual services. Unlike an escort, hiring a prostitute is explicitly prohibited by Illinois law, and both the prostitute and the person soliciting him or her are violating the law. 

Prostitution is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois. Whether you are a prostitute or you are soliciting one, you can face fines, probation, and even jail time depending on the case. 

Legal Differences Between Prostitutes and Escorts

While there can be some overlap when it comes to hiring a prostitute or an escort, one major difference between the two is the nature of the services that they respectively provide. A prostitute is paid to provide sexual services. That means that someone is giving him or her money in exchange for sexual activity. This is strictly illegal in Illinois.

On the other hand, an escort is paid to provide companionship. If the paid arrangement maintains a non-sexual nature, it is not illegal. The legal distinction between the two is based on whether sexual activity occurs in exchange for payment.

Legal Risks of Hiring an Escort

While it appears on the surface that an escort service is legal and you will not face any charges for hiring an escort, it is important to keep in mind that there still is a degree of risk. Even if you hire an escort with the understanding that the arrangement will remain non-sexual, you could be charged with sexual crimes if the escort changes the nature of the transaction and offers sexual activity. You could end up suspected of soliciting prostitution even if that was never your intention, and the police could investigate you and possibly charge you.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer

It is legal in Illinois to hire an escort for companionship. However, hiring a prostitute is a criminal act, and you could find yourself in a prostitution-related situation if the dynamics change after you hire an escort. If you are facing prostitution charges, a qualified Cook County, IL criminal defense attorney can help you understand your options. At Law Offices of James F. DiQuattro, we have experience defending our clients from serious criminal charges and we are dedicated to protecting your rights and building a strong defense. Call us at 312-627-9482 to schedule a free consultation today.