A lifestyle that seeks the best that life has to offer need not be out of reach to be within budget. And there are many opportunities to save money while reaping the benefits of a richly lived life. But if a person commits an activity that is illegal for living richly, their budget may face a serious dent.
Ask any person in Michigan: the legality of prostitution, and they will tell you no. The basic answer is that in most circumstances, yes. Michigan’s criminal statutes permit regulated activity and discussions regarding the legality of such activity. Prostitution itself is not illegal.
Basics: Michigan’s crimes against morality and justice, MCL 750.458 et seq., speak to prostitution and acts in furtherance of prostitution. Michigan law teaches us a few things. First, to be guilty of prostitution, a person must sell themselves (that is, provide sexual favors) for consideration. Michigan law requires that the act be done in exchange for something of value.
Exceptions: There are limitations and exceptions. For example, a person who offers up sex for nothing, but engages in sexual conduct, is not a prostitute because no goods or services were exchanged. Instead, the exception would be “sex for free, minus goods or services” which, legally speaking, is perfectly acceptable. Further, if sex is offered up as a swap for something else, but the something else is not of legal or material value, then the act is not prostitution and would not be illegal.
There are SO many terms and definitions embedded in these statutes that a discussion of sex for fees could go on for volumes. It suffices to say that MI criminal law permits a person to offer to have sex in exchange for money (and/or other goods and services). If the act is otherwise legal, and doesn’t defy statute or morality, then the person can – on the statute books at least, be guilty of nothing.
Penalties: Where one could run into problems is that these acts are often taken into consideration with regard to other crimes. A “regular” prostitute might have charges pressed against them for sex for hire, and be arrested/charged with a misdemeanor. Some circumstances, however, might lead to something more. For example, “soliciting prostitution” is one such felony penetration. You’ll have to read the statutes to find out more, as again, this could go on for volumes.
But the point here is: if you’re not sure how a certain activity plays into your overall cost of living, do what you can to find out. You don’t want to incur expenses you didn’t know about. If you break the law, it can cost you a lot of money. Legal fees add up. And that bill for 2 misdemeanors and a felony could be staggering.
The bottom line is this: is prostitution legal in Michigan? The answer is sometimes. But you need to understand what that means. The key is to live richly for less money, without breaking the law.