18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902

Prostitution and related offenses.

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§ 5902. Prostitution and related offenses.

(a) Prostitution.--A person is guilty of prostitution if he or she:

(1) is an inmate of a house of prostitution or otherwise engages in sexual activity as a business; or

(2) loiters in or within view of any public place for the purpose of being hired to engage in sexual activity.

(a.1) Grading of offenses under subsection (a).--An offense under subsection (a) constitutes a:

(1) Misdemeanor of the third degree when the offense is a first or second offense.

(2) Misdemeanor of the second degree when the offense is a third offense.

(3) Misdemeanor of the first degree when the offense is a fourth or subsequent offense.

(4) Felony of the third degree if the person who committed the offense knew that he or she was human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive or manifesting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

(b) Promoting prostitution.--A person who knowingly promotes prostitution of another commits a misdemeanor or felony as provided in subsection (c) of this section. The following acts shall, without limitation of the foregoing, constitute promoting prostitution:

(1) owning, controlling, managing, supervising or otherwise keeping, alone or in association with others, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business;

(2) procuring an inmate for a house of prostitution or a place in a house of prostitution for one who would be an inmate;

(3) encouraging, inducing, or otherwise intentionally causing another to become or remain a prostitute;

(4) soliciting a person to patronize a prostitute;

(5) procuring a prostitute for a patron;

(6) transporting a person into or within this Commonwealth with intent to promote the engaging in prostitution by that person, or procuring or paying for transportation with that intent;

(7) leasing or otherwise permitting a place controlled by the actor, alone or in association with others, to be regularly used for prostitution or the promotion of prostitution, or failure to make reasonable effort to abate such use by ejecting the tenant, notifying law enforcement authorities, or other legally available means; or

(8) soliciting, receiving, or agreeing to receive any benefit for doing or agreeing to do anything forbidden by this subsection.

(b.1) Promoting prostitution of minor.--A person who knowingly promotes prostitution of a minor commits a felony of the third degree. The following acts shall, without limitation of the foregoing, constitute promoting prostitution of a minor:

(1) owning, controlling, managing, supervising or otherwise keeping, alone or in association with others, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business in which a victim is a minor;

(2) procuring an inmate who is a minor for a house of prostitution or a place in a house of prostitution where a minor would be an inmate;

(3) encouraging, inducing or otherwise intentionally causing a minor to become or remain a prostitute;

(4) soliciting a minor to patronize a prostitute;

(5) procuring a prostitute who is a minor for a patron;

(6) transporting a minor into or within this Commonwealth with intent to promote the engaging in prostitution by that minor, or procuring or paying for transportation with that intent;

(7) leasing or otherwise permitting a place controlled by the actor, alone or in association with others, to be regularly used for prostitution of a minor or the promotion of prostitution of a minor, or failure to make reasonable effort to abate such use by ejecting the tenant, notifying law enforcement authorities or other legally available means; or

(8) soliciting, receiving or agreeing to receive any benefit for doing or agreeing to do anything forbidden by this subsection.

(c) Grading of offenses under subsection (b).--

(1) An offense under subsection (b) constitutes a felony of the third degree if:

(i) the offense falls within paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2) or (b)(3);

(ii) the actor compels another to engage in or promote prostitution;

(iii) (Deleted by amendment);

(iv) the actor promotes prostitution of his spouse, child, ward or any person for whose care, protection or support he is responsible; or

(v) the person knowingly promoted prostitution of another who was HIV positive or infected with the AIDS virus.

(2) Otherwise the offense is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(d) Living off prostitutes.--A person, other than the prostitute or the prostitute's minor child or other legal dependent incapable of self-support, who is knowingly supported in whole or substantial part by the proceeds of prostitution is promoting prostitution in violation of subsection (b) of this section.

(e) Patronizing prostitutes.--A person commits the offense of patronizing prostitutes if that person hires a prostitute or any other person to engage in sexual activity with him or her or if that person enters or remains in a house of prostitution for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.

(e.1) Grading of offenses under subsection (e).--An offense under subsection (e) constitutes a:

(1) Misdemeanor of the third degree when the offense is a first or second offense.

(2) Misdemeanor of the second degree when the offense is a third offense.

(3) Misdemeanor of the first degree when the offense is a fourth or subsequent offense.

(4) Felony of the third degree if the person who committed the offense knew that he or she was human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive or manifesting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

(e.2) Publication of sentencing order.--A court imposing a sentence for a second or subsequent offense committed under subsection (e) shall publish the sentencing order in a newspaper of general circulation in the judicial district in which the court sits, and the court costs imposed on the person sentenced shall include the cost of publishing the sentencing order.

(f) Definitions.--As used in this section the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

"House of prostitution." Any place where prostitution or promotion of prostitution is regularly carried on by one person under the control, management or supervision of another.

"Inmate." A person who engages in prostitution in or through the agency of a house of prostitution.

"Minor." An individual under 18 years of age.

"Public place." Any place to which the public or any substantial group thereof has access.

"Sexual activity." Includes sexual intercourse and deviate sexual intercourse, as those terms are defined in section 3101 (relating to definitions), and any touching on the sexual or other intimate parts of an individual for the purpose of gratifying sexual desire of either person.

(Oct. 4, 1978, P.L.909, No.173, eff. 60 days; Feb. 2, 1990, P.L.6, No.4, eff. 60 days; July 9, 1992, P.L.685, No.100, eff. 60 days; Mar. 31, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.985, No.10, eff. 60 days; July 6, 1995, P.L.242, No.28, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 2000, P.L.973, No.134, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 2011, P.L.446, No.111, eff. 60 days; July 11, 2022, P.L.761, No.73, eff. 60 days)

2022 Amendment. Act 73 amended subsec. (f).

Cross References. Section 5902 is referred to in sections 3013, 3019, 3064, 3065, 5708, 6318, 9122 of this title; sections 5329, 6303, 6344 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); sections 5552, 5920, 9718.1, 9799.14, 9799.55 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); section 2303 of Title 44 (Law and Justice); section 7122 of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole); section 3113 of Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 92 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1977–2025 · leading case: A.S. v. Pennsylvania State Police

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A.S. v. Pennsylvania State Police (2016) pa · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b) or (b.1) (relating to prostitution and related offenses) where the actor promotes the prostitution of a minor.”

Commonwealth v. Gill (1981) pasuperct · cites it 9× “Appellants Gill, Dremsek and Kicielinski were charged with offenses involving prostitution, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902, arising from the operation of the "Spartacus Lounge" in McKees Rocks.”

Commonwealth v. Finnegan (1980) pasuperct · cites it 7× “Appellant’s first contention on appeal is that the statute punishing prostitution (18 Pa.C.S. § 5902) is unconstitutional because it violates the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution and the equal rights amendment of the…”

Commonwealth v. Bleigh (1991) pasuperct · cites it 6× “In the present Act [18 Pa.C.S. § 5902], the Legislature did not eradicate the commonly understood definition of prostitution but merely clarified it to include “homosexual and other deviate sexual relations.”

Commonwealth v. Gehris (2012) pacommwct · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b) (relating to prostitution and related offenses) where the actor promotes the prostitution of a minor.”

Commonwealth v. Grekis (1992) pasuperct · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(a). The amended information charged appellant with criminal solicitation to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.”

Gundy v. Commonwealth (1984) pacommwct · cites it 2× “18 Pa. C. S. §5902. We note that Section 21.”

Commonwealth v. Birdseye (1994) pasuperct · cites it 2× “In this case, the District Attorney sought authorization to intercept the telephone communications of the Birdseyes concerning offenses in violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902 (prostitution and related offenses) and 18 Pa.”

K.T. v. L.S. (2015) pasuperct “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b) (relating to prostitution and related offenses).”

Commonwealth v. Danko (1980) pasuperct · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(a). Appellant attacks the constitutionality of this section on the grounds that it implicates speech protected by the First Amendment, 4 is unconstitutionally vague in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, and represents .”

Commonwealth v. Wilson (2006) pa · cites it 2× “§ 4302 (incest) where the victim is 12 years of age or older but under 18 years of age; 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b) (prostitution and related offenses) where the actor promotes the prostitution of a minor; 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Pinhas (1981) pa · cites it 4× “[3] Section 5902(a) of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(a). [4] A plea bargain offered on the condition that it be accepted by all three defendants was withdrawn when only two defendants indicated a willingness to accept it.”

Show all 92 citing cases →

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(a) — 11 cases

Commonwealth v. Gill (1981) pasuperct “Appellants Gill, Dremsek and Kicielinski were charged with offenses involving prostitution, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902, arising from the operation of the "Spartacus Lounge" in McKees Rocks.”

Commonwealth v. Bleigh (1991) pasuperct “In the present Act [18 Pa.C.S. § 5902], the Legislature did not eradicate the commonly understood definition of prostitution but merely clarified it to include “homosexual and other deviate sexual relations.”

Commonwealth v. Grekis (1992) pasuperct “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(a). The amended information charged appellant with criminal solicitation to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.”

Commonwealth v. Danko (1980) pasuperct “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(a). Appellant attacks the constitutionality of this section on the grounds that it implicates speech protected by the First Amendment, 4 is unconstitutionally vague in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, and represents .”

Choe v. Philadelphia Board of License & Inspection (2004) pacommwct

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(a)(1) — 8 cases

Commonwealth v. Potts (1983) pasuperct

Com. v. Edwards, K. (2023) pasuperct

Com. v. SUN CHA CHON (2009) pasuperct

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(a)(2) — 2 cases

Commonwealth v. Roberson (1982) pasuperct

T.E. Huyett v. PSP (2017) pacommwct

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(b) — 24 cases

A.S. v. Pennsylvania State Police (2016) pa “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b) or (b.1) (relating to prostitution and related offenses) where the actor promotes the prostitution of a minor.”

Commonwealth v. Gehris (2012) pacommwct “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b) (relating to prostitution and related offenses) where the actor promotes the prostitution of a minor.”

K.T. v. L.S. (2015) pasuperct “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b) (relating to prostitution and related offenses).”

Commonwealth v. Wilson (2006) pa “§ 4302 (incest) where the victim is 12 years of age or older but under 18 years of age; 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b) (prostitution and related offenses) where the actor promotes the prostitution of a minor; 18 Pa.”

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(b)(1) — 13 cases

Commonwealth v. Finnegan (1980) pasuperct “Appellant’s first contention on appeal is that the statute punishing prostitution (18 Pa.C.S. § 5902) is unconstitutional because it violates the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution and the equal rights amendment of the…”

Commonwealth v. Blankenbiller (1987) pa

Com. v. SUN CHA CHON (2009) pasuperct

Commonwealth v. Wallace (1981) pasuperct

Com. v. Lu, C. (2019) pasuperct

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(b)(3) — 13 cases

Commonwealth v. Lee (1978) pasuperct

Com. v. I.B. Pearson (2017) pacommwct

Com. v. Morrison, S. (2024) pasuperct

Commonwealth v. Sabol (1990) pactcomplberks

Com. v. Pearson, I. (2017) pasuperct

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(b)(5) — 1 case

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(b)(6) — 2 cases

Com. v. Morrison, S. (2020) pasuperct

Mable v. Garman (2020) pamd

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(b)(7) — 3 cases

Commonwealth v. Grekis (1992) pasuperct “18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(a). The amended information charged appellant with criminal solicitation to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.”

Commonwealth v. Birdseye (1994) pasuperct “In this case, the District Attorney sought authorization to intercept the telephone communications of the Birdseyes concerning offenses in violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902 (prostitution and related offenses) and 18 Pa.”

Com. v. Morrison, S. (2020) pasuperct

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(b)(8) — 2 cases

Com. v. Jacobs, S. (2018) pasuperct

Com. v. Morrison, S. (2020) pasuperct

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(c) — 1 case

Commonwealth v. Gallagher (2007) pa

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(d) — 1 case

Commonwealth v. Morrell (1986) pactcomplbeaver

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(e) — 8 cases

Commonwealth v. Sampson (1977) pasuperct

Commonwealth v. Mita (1986) pactcomplphilad

Com. v. Pham, C. (2016) pasuperct

Com. v. Pham, C. (2019) pasuperct

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5902(f) — 4 cases

Commonwealth v. Sale (1990) pasuperct

Com. v. Chang, P. (2019) pasuperct

Commonwealth v. Johnson (1986) pactcomplmercer

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