In Jefferson County, it is illegal to sell sexual acts for money or anything else of value. A conviction for a charge of prostitution may come with significant penalties ranging from jail time to fines and could lead to social stigmatization that potentially lasts for years.
A prostitution charge is not automatically a conviction. Hiring a skilled personal injury attorney could be the first step to understanding your rights and how to best proceed with a criminal case. Jefferson County also has a local prohibition against the act of prostitution. Amendment to the Alabama State Constitution, which specifically addresses prostitution in Jefferson County, largely mirrors the state laws against prostitution.
It stretches further than the state laws by covering more forms of aiding and abetting prostitution. A prostitution attorney in Jefferson County could go into further detail about what these laws consider to be prostitution and how best to defend against accusations of violating them.
In Jefferson County, the consequences of a criminal conviction on a charge of prostitution may be very serious depending on a few key factors. These penalties may be possible whether the conviction came under state law or local Jefferson County ordinance. Subsequent convictions may result in even stiffer criminal penalties. The social stigma of having a criminal background with a prostitution conviction could be even more damaging over the long term. Background checks by potential employers or landlords could reveal this prior conviction and shut the door on important opportunities.
The steep penalties and social stigmatization associated with prostitution charges might make it crucial to defend against a charge of prostitution in Jefferson County as thoroughly as possible. There are numerous legal defenses that a prostitution attorney in Jefferson County could raise on the behalf of the accused to defend their rights and future in court. One of the most important potential defenses in a prostitution case could be entrapment. While law enforcement in Jefferson County has the right to find and apprehend those they suspect of committing criminal acts, they typically cannot coerce or force innocent people into committing crimes for the purposes of arresting and charging them.
