Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3013 (2026)

Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude.

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 3013. Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude.

(a) Offense defined.--

(1) A person commits a felony of the first degree if the person engages in any sex act or performance with another individual knowing that the act or performance is the result of the individual being a victim of human trafficking.

(2) A person commits an offense if the person engages in any sex act or performance with another individual with reckless disregard for whether the act or performance is the result of the individual being a victim of human trafficking. An offense under this paragraph constitutes:

(i) A felony of the third degree when the offense is a first offense.

(ii) A felony of the first degree when the offense is a second or subsequent offense.

(3) A person commits an offense if the person engages in a sex act or performance with an individual who is under 18 years of age, causing the individual to engage in a commercial sex act and with reckless disregard for whether the act or performance is the result of the individual being a victim of human trafficking. An offense under this paragraph constitutes:

(i) A felony of the second degree when the offense is a first offense.

(ii) A felony of the first degree when the offense is a second or subsequent offense.

(b) Investigation.--An individual arrested for a violation of section 5902(e) (relating to prostitution and related offenses) may be formally detained and questioned by law enforcement personnel to determine if the individual engaged in any sex act or performance with the alleged prostitute knowing that the individual is a victim of human trafficking.

(c) Fine.--A person whose violation of this section results in a judicial disposition other than acquittal or dismissal shall also pay a fine in one of the following amounts to the court, to be distributed to the commission to fund the grant program established under section 3031 (relating to grants):

(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2):

(i) Not less than $1,000 and not more than the maximum amount applicable under section 1101 (relating to fines).

(ii) A person convicted of a second offense shall pay a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $25,000.

(iii) A person convicted of a third or subsequent offense shall pay a fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than $50,000.

(2) Not less than $10,000 nor more than $50,000, if the victim of sexual servitude was a minor at the time of the offense.

(d) Distribution of fines.--

(1) From all fines collected under this section, 50% shall be deposited in the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund established under section 3064 (relating to Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund) and 50% shall be deposited in the restricted account established in paragraph (2).

(2) The Prevention of Human Trafficking Restricted Account is established in the General Fund. The money in the restricted account is appropriated on a continuing basis to the commission for the purpose of funding the grant programs under section 3031.

(Feb. 5, 2020, P.L.1, No.1, eff. 60 days; Dec. 14, 2023, P.L.366, No.39, eff. 60 days)

2023 Amendment. Act 39 added subsec. (a)(3).

2020 Amendment. Act 1 amended subsecs. (a) and (c) and added subsec. (d).

Cross References. Section 3013 is referred to in sections 3021, 3064 of this title; section 6704 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); section 9799.14 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases, 2015–2019 · leading case: Com. v. Sipps, M., 225 A.3d 1110 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).

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Com. v. Sipps, M., 225 A.3d 1110 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “Whether the evidence at trial was insufficient to support [Appellant’s] conviction of Count 3, Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude [18 Pa.C.S. § 3013], where the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that [Appellant] engaged in a sex act or performance with…”

Commonwealth v. Kimmel, 125 A.3d 1272 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015). “§ 3012; 18 Pa. C.S. § 3013; 18 Pa.C.S. § 3014; 18 Pa.”

Com. v. Sipps, M., 2019 Pa. Super. 370 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “Whether the evidence at trial was insufficient to support [Appellant’s] conviction of Count 3, Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude [18 Pa.C.S. § 3013], where the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that [Appellant] engaged in a sex act or performance with…”

Com. v. Kimmel, L. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015). “§ 3012; 18 Pa.C.S. § 3013; 18 Pa.C.S. § 3014; 18 Pa.”

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