What the law states
Under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), section 91F, it is an offence for anybody who is capable of exercising lawful control over their premises to allow for children to participate in acts of prostitution. Those who have control over premises include owners, lesees, licensees and occupiers of premises who are concerned in the management of premises or in controlling the entry of persons to or their movement within the premises.
Defences
It is possible that a person cannot be guilty of an offence under this section if that person did not know about the act, or they did not know that a child was participating in the act (that the act was an act of child prostitution) or that the person used due diligence to prevent the child from participating in the act.
Penalties
The maximum penalty for this offence is 7 years imprisonment.
Although this offence attracts heavy maximum penalties, lesser penalties are always an option that the court may consider (such as good behaviour bonds, community service orders, suspended sentences or weekend detention). In the event that you plead or are found guilty, there may be factors that make it possible for the court to sentence you to a lesser penalty and our criminal lawyers are experienced at drawing this to the attention of the court.
How can Prime Lawyers help you?
If you have been charged with this offence, our experienced and knowledgeable criminal lawyers can help you. They will carefully examine the facts of you case and do all that they can to obtain the best result for you.