especially when involving underage and pimping.  

I thought it would settle down when we got a new president, but it seems to be snowballing with the advocacy groups spearheading based upon their assumption all escorts are victims.

I just saw a quote in an article that one advocate stated 95% of all retired escorts have long-term damage (psychological and physical).

The same thing could be said for people from a lot of professions.  To be totally fair & scientific they would need to take surveys of a wide range of folks ( say 1 million), and tabulate that.  Then see if retired providers have a 'higher rate' of long-term damage when compared to the rest of the population.

A friend of mine was busted during a Memorial day sting in Kissimmee, FL.  Her first offense of ANY kind.  Her arraignment was on 6/23/2009...this is what they offered:

7 days in County jail
60 hours community service
3 years probation
$1000 fine
HIV test and STD classes

A bit excessive?  I think.

so sorry about your friend Jackie, YES I think that is excessive, also it sounds like they are giving her the "full charge"

I can tell you,  I know about a case that was an illegal arrest (no violation) & the DA  was malicious / same  in that no priors. the punishment was even more than that of your friend & the Full charge.

I see all the time criminals with many charges dropped right & left. Yet someone with no prior a measly sol charge & they throw the book at them.

I know she is scared, My advice to really try hard to get it reduced at worst case scenario. Did she get a lawyer? if the worst happens, then she  must  watch her Ps & Qs and start working towards an expungment :
that means serve the sentence ASAP & get probation dropped  early then expungement

Unfortunately she cannot afford an attorney and is at the mercy of the public defender.

She pleaded not guilty at the arraignment and her trial date is September 3rd.  Hopefully, the PD can work with the DA and come to some sort of reasonable plea bargain.

She spent 3 days in jail already, maybe they will give her time served.  As for the probation and $1000 fine...hell in Florida the maximum sentence is 6 months and $500 fine.

Her head is reeling and not a clue at what to do right now.

I'd really like to know what the source of those statistics is. Did 19 out of 20 (which is still a deceptive 95%) women at a battered women's shelter admit to prostitution and long-term damage? How is "long-term" defined and just how much "damage" was suffered? How many former escorts went forward to answer this survey? And under what sort of conditions were these women working before they retired?

I just don't believe stats, not unless I can see validated sources.

I'll assume your friend is a bright person and has never offered sex for money in any way.   Now, if that's the case, then how the hell can she have gotten arrested?   Scenarios like these are really confusing the crap out of me.   I guess "escorting" is technically illegal then.

the trial being way down the road, sounds like the courts are clogged (good news for your friend).
This is  a "horrible charge" to have one's record.

I would get a free consult, until she finds one that will defend her that she feels good about , many attorney offices will take payment plans, the fact located in Kissimme & given her clean record it should be "reasonble" it would be better for that $1000 to go towards a defense rather than the court & damaging her future.
A solictation charge even after an expungement can be forever haunting.

it has become a big game, LE can do anything they want & are stepping waaaaaay over the line.




They(DA) stiff brow folks into pleas, I actually believe that cases are not thoroughly read  & studied they push them through the system.

most folks just give up & the DA & LE win have nothing to lose,

the only way it will stop is to invoke huge civil penalties for illegal arrests

It has to stop because it's really getting ridiculous.   It is wayyyy out of control.   It's BEYOND out of control.   Something severly needs to be done in our legal system, URGENTLY!  This is no joke, it's something that needs to be addressed and taken VERY seriously!  We all need to act, I'm serious.   The next person who gets arrested, really needs to address that this is unfair, not right, and a total infringement on people's rights, and needs to go as far as possible in the legal system to get these unfair practices by law enforcent reversed.   Guys, even if it's going to cost you money, you need to act and go full force!   Really.   Otherwise these scenarios are going to keep repeating over and over and over.   This is honestly the ONLY way we all can enjoy this hobby in peace.   Look at our history, how certain people in history were able to overturn things in our legal system, all because they went FULL FORCE in the legal system.   You need to emulate THEM!

See post below titled "Legal help in Florida"...

Will outline the entire case.

I read it.   According to your story, she offered the officer sex for money?   Or was that something that was fabricated by the officer?

That was fabricated by the officer.