State Representative Steven Jackson, D-Shreveport, is sending a message to those who are convicted of solicitation of prostitution that repeat offenders, so-called “johns,” should face tougher penalties. Rep. Jackson pre-filed a bill this week [ahead of the April 14 start date] for the 2025 Regular Legislative Session that would require anyone convicted more than once for solicitation of prostitution to register as a sex offender.
The current punishment, spelled out in Louisiana’s criminal code [RS 14:83], calls for a maximum fine of $750 and/or a six-month jail sentence. Jackson’s House Bill 5 would also maintain the increased punishment for repeat solicitation convictions, which includes a maximum possible fine of $2,000 and/or one year behind bars. Jackson described his reasoning for adding the sex offender registration requirement for repeat offenders. “It’s just merely a misdemeanor. And so, maybe people will think twice if they have to register as a sex offender as a more serious crime.”
Research on the “collateral consequences” of being a registered sex offender, published in uscourts.gov, reveals the sometimes drastic, often lifelong changes to a person’s day-to-day life. Beyond the social stigma and mental stress, legal experts say being placed on a sex offender registry can make it difficult to find employment, restrict where you can work, where you can live and requires keeping a consistent, up-to-date registration status or face stiff penalties, probation and/or a prison sentence of up to 10 years according to U.S. Justice Department guidance, regardless of your threat level. The majority of registered sex offenders are classified as level 1 offenders. In Louisiana, a Tier 1 sex offender is considered low risk to re-offend. And according to Louisiana State Police, this level has a 15-year registration period.
In most states, a solicitation of prostitution conviction does not require registering as a sex offender unless the act involves a minor, then the charge is upgraded to a felony as a sex crime. When the person being solicited is under the age of fourteen years the person faces a maximum potential fine of up to $75,000 and/or a prison sentence of 25 to 50 years. The solicitation charge may also be upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony if the person has a prior conviction or is linked to human trafficking.
In every state except Texas, prostitution offenses are treated as a misdemeanor. In June 2021, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1540, which increased the charge of solicitation of prostitution to a felony and increased the penalty for this third-degree felony from 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 for a first offense. Yet nationally prostitution arrests have declined 89% since 2000, according to a December 2022 executive summary report from the state of Florida.
