Most of the clients who seek my help as a Chicago prostitution lawyer come to me after they advertise their services online and are caught in a law enforcement sting. Recently, craigslist.com, responding in part to pressure from the Cook County Sheriff, closed down its "Adult Services" section. Since then, Backpage.com has replaced Craigslist as the prostitution advertisement leader; from August to September of 2010, Backpage's revenue from online prostitution ads increased 15.3 percent to over $1.6 Million just for the month of September.
If you are a member of the world's oldest profession, know that advertising your services online is risky for several reasons. The internet is by its nature open and readily accessible to any member of the public, including law enforcement. With Backpage emerging as the industry leader, Cook County Sheriffs are targeting the women who advertise on it with increased intensity. Like any potential client, Chicago police need only type in a web address to obtain a list of targets. If you make offers of sexual bargains or post your picture in your ad, you provide at least some of the evidence needed to convict you in a form that is easy to permanently save and possibly trace back to you.
Three women accused of prostitution in Naperville recently learned this the hard way when they allegedly advertised their prostitution services online. In what is fast becoming a classic tactic, Naperville police conducted a one day investigation after responding to an online prostitution advertisement. These women now face Illinois charges of prostitution after police set up meetings and arrested them.
If you are an escort or masseuse, remember that there is no Illinois law against offering your platonic companionship or therapeutic massage in exchange for a fee. Protect yourself by explicitly stating in your post that your services are non-sexual. If you are a masseuse, ensure that you have an Illinois massage license. If you want to be truly careful and smart, consider making every new client sign a contract stating the legal terms and purposes of your business transaction.
If you have already made these mistakes, do not despair. There are many ways to either totally beat an Illinois prostitution accusation or minimize its effect on your record. Shepherd Law Offices has been defending women accused of prostitution since 2005, serving those areas in and around Chicago and its suburbs including Schaumburg, Naperville, Cicero, and Calumet City.
