Nevada law defines prostitution as “engaging in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee, monetary consideration or other thing of value.” Sexual conduct is defined as “sexual intercourse, oral-genital contact or any touching of the sexual organs or other intimate parts of a person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of either person.” Solicitation is the crime of offering or agreeing to engage in sexual conduct “for a fee, monetary consideration or other thing of value.” Penetration is not necessary to constitute “sexual conduct” in prostitution cases and no contact at all is necessary to commit the crime of solicitation. An individual can also be found guilty of either crime even where no money is exchanged, offered or agreed upon; all that is required is the exchange, offer or agreement to engage in “sexual conduct” for a “thing of value.”
Contrary to most tourist’s beliefs, prostitution is not legal in Las Vegas or any other city in Clark County for that matter. Prostitution is only legal in “licensed houses of prostitution” or “brothels” that are generally located in rural Nevada counties. The crimes of both prostitution and solicitation are misdemeanors that generally involve the following punishments: fines, classes, being trespassed from tourist locations and even jail time. Nevada’s relevant prostitution and solicitation laws are set forth below.
