Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-355 — Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto; human trafficking

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 3: Commercial Sex Trafficking, Prostitution, Etc, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-355

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-355Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

Any person who: (1) For purposes of prostitution or unlawful sexual intercourse, takes any person into, or persuades, encourages or causes any person to enter, a bawdy place, or takes or causes such person to be taken to any place against his or her will for such purposes; or (2) Takes or detains a person against his or her will with the intent to compel such person, by force, threats, persuasions, menace or duress, to marry him or her or to marry any other person, or to be defiled; or (3) Being parent, guardian, legal custodian or one standing in loco parentis of a person, consents to such person being taken or detained by any person for the purpose of prostitution or unlawful sexual intercourse; or (4) For purposes of prostitution, takes any minor into, or persuades, encourages, or causes any minor to enter, a bawdy place, or takes or causes such person to be taken to any place for such purposes; is guilty of pandering. A violation of subdivision (1), (2), or (3) is punishable as a Class 4 felony. A violation of subdivision (4) is punishable as a Class 3 felony.

Official sources

Official section text (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto is a class 3 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-355.

Pandering a minor for prostitution: class 3 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-3554)

Which Virginia statute covers taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto?

Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-355 (Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto; human trafficking).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.