Arrested Last night for Prostitution?

Arrested Last night for Prostitution?

Arrested last night for prostitution? So you were arrested last night on a prostitution charge in the District of Columbia.   You are professional, or you work for the federal government, and it could be detrimental to your career to have such a charge on your record. 

 So What Happens Next?

First and foremost, this is not the end of the world.  We have represented hundreds of people like yourself whose words may have been misconstrued or maybe made a mistake in judgment.   No one needs to explain to you that DC makes prostitution illegal.   There is a movement in DC recently to decriminalize prostitution but for now its still illegal.   So what happens next?

What is a citation arraignment date the police officer gave me?

So while at the police station you were held for a few hours and should have been released on what is called a citation release.   Citation release is allowing you to be released pending your first court hearing.  Your first court hearing is called a citation arraignment.   At the arraignment, you through your lawyer will plead not guilty assert your constitutional rights and set a new court date called a status hearing.  The status hearing is scheduled 3 to 4 weeks after the citation arraignment (usually).

What happens after the citation arraignment date?

The next hearing you will have is called a a status hearing.  The status hearing, the prosecutor and your lawyer should have tried to resolve the case.   Most people charged with sexual solicitation (1^st offense) are allowed to complete diversion (see other blogs on diversion).   If diversion is not agreed to a trial date will be set in 3 to 4 weeks.    If diversion is agreed to a new control date will be set in either 4 to 6 months (depending on diversion agreement).

What is happens at the Trial if I elect to have one?

If you elect a trial which I must say is quite unusual.  It will be a bench trial where the Judge will listen to the decision and make a decision of whether guilty or not guilty.

What is a final diversion hearing?

If diversion is elected, you will appear in 4 to 6 months from your status hearing and if you completed the conditions of your diversion the case will be dismissed.

What if I have more questions about being arrested for prostitution in the District of Columbia?

If you have more questions, give us a call.  I get you are probably stressed but trust me this is not the end of the world.   Most people charged with a prostitution charge in the District of Columbia get their cases dismissed after completing diversion with no criminal record.