{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-355.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-355.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-355.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-355.html"}],"law_id":57212,"edition_id":1,"section_id":57212,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-355","catch_line":"Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto; human trafficking","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-204; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1980, c. 534; 1997, c. 555; 2014, cc. 649, 706; 2015, c. 395.","full_text":"Any person who:\n\n1\n\nFor 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; or2\n\nTakes 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; or3\n\nBeing 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; or4\n\nFor 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.\n\t\t\tA 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.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":209580,"text":"Any person who:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":209581,"text":"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","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":209582,"text":"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","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":209583,"text":"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","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":209584,"text":"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.\n\t\t\tA 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.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14023,"edition_id":1,"name":"Commercial Sex Trafficking, Prostitution, etc","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","permalink":{"id":167659,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14023,"identifier":"3","token":"18.2\/8\/3","url":"\/18.2\/8\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14022,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Morals and Decency","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","permalink":{"id":167393,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14022,"identifier":"8","token":"18.2\/8","url":"\/18.2\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":55113,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-344","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-344\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-344","metadata":false},{"id":68451,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-345","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-345\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-345","metadata":false},{"id":79810,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-346","catch_line":"Prostitution; commercial sexual conduct; penalties","url":"\/18.2-346\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-346","metadata":false},{"id":57611,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-346.01","catch_line":"Prostitution; solicitation; commercial exploitation of a minor; penalties","url":"\/18.2-346.01\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-346.01","metadata":false},{"id":77563,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-346.1","catch_line":"Testing of convicted prostitutes and injection drug users for sexually transmitted infection","url":"\/18.2-346.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-346.1","metadata":false},{"id":85705,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-347","catch_line":"Keeping, residing in, or frequenting a bawdy place; \"bawdy place\" defined; penalty","url":"\/18.2-347\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-347","metadata":false},{"id":83161,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-348","catch_line":"Aiding prostitution or illicit sexual intercourse, etc.; penalty","url":"\/18.2-348\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-348","metadata":false},{"id":85373,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-348.1","catch_line":"Promoting travel for prostitution; penalty","url":"\/18.2-348.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-348.1","metadata":false},{"id":85342,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-349","catch_line":"Using vehicles to promote prostitution or unlawful sexual intercourse; penalty","url":"\/18.2-349\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-349","metadata":false},{"id":72571,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-350","catch_line":"Confinement of convicted prostitutes and persons violating \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-347 through 18.2-349","url":"\/18.2-350\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-350","metadata":false},{"id":62371,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-351","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-351\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-351","metadata":false},{"id":57027,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-354","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/18.2-354\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-354","metadata":false},{"id":57212,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-355","catch_line":"Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto; human trafficking","url":"\/18.2-355\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-355","metadata":false},{"id":59657,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-356","catch_line":"Receiving money for procuring person; penalties","url":"\/18.2-356\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-356","metadata":false},{"id":81938,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-356.1","catch_line":"Purchasing or selling of minors; exceptions; penalties","url":"\/18.2-356.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-356.1","metadata":false},{"id":62200,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-357","catch_line":"Receiving money from earnings of male or female prostitute; penalties","url":"\/18.2-357\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-357","metadata":false},{"id":76497,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-357.1","catch_line":"Commercial sex trafficking; penalties","url":"\/18.2-357.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-357.1","metadata":false},{"id":59589,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-358","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-358\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-358","metadata":false},{"id":71784,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-359","catch_line":"Venue for criminal sexual assault or where any person transported for criminal sexual assault, attempted criminal sexual assault, or purposes of unlawful sexual intercourse, crimes against nature, and indecent liberties with children; venue for such crimes when coupled with a violent felony","url":"\/18.2-359\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-359","metadata":false},{"id":61388,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-360","catch_line":"Competency of persons to testify in prosecutions under \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-355 through 18.2-361","url":"\/18.2-360\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-360","metadata":false},{"id":55287,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-361","catch_line":"Crimes against nature; penalty","url":"\/18.2-361\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-361","metadata":false},{"id":68045,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-361.01","catch_line":"Sexual abuse of animals; penalties","url":"\/18.2-361.01\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-361.01","metadata":false},{"id":71996,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-361.1","catch_line":"Victims of sex trafficking; affirmative defense","url":"\/18.2-361.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-361.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57027,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-354","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/18.2-354\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-354","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":59657,"structure_id":14023,"section_number":"18.2-356","catch_line":"Receiving money for procuring person; penalties","url":"\/18.2-356\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-356","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-355\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 358; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1980, chapter 534; in 1997, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0555\">555<\/a>; in 2014, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0649\">649<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0706\">706<\/a>; in 2015, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?151+ful+CHAP0395\">395<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80246,"section_number":"17.1-805","catch_line":"Adoption of initial discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-805\/"},{"id":61388,"section_number":"18.2-360","catch_line":"Competency of persons to testify in prosecutions under \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-355 through 18.2-361","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-360\/"},{"id":77778,"section_number":"18.2-374.3","catch_line":"Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-374.3\/"},{"id":68291,"section_number":"18.2-513","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-513\/"},{"id":87357,"section_number":"19.2-10.2","catch_line":"Administrative subpoena issued for record from provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-10.2\/"},{"id":77143,"section_number":"19.2-215.1","catch_line":"Functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-215.1\/"},{"id":64807,"section_number":"19.2-268.3","catch_line":"Admissibility of statements by children in certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-268.3\/"},{"id":75041,"section_number":"19.2-299","catch_line":"Investigations and reports by probation officers in certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-299\/"},{"id":60983,"section_number":"19.2-386.16","catch_line":"Forfeiture of motor vehicles used in commission of certain crimes","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-386.16\/"},{"id":79782,"section_number":"19.2-386.35","catch_line":"Seizure of property used in connection with certain offenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-386.35\/"},{"id":61280,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"id":63732,"section_number":"2.2-515.2","catch_line":"Address confidentiality program established; victims of domestic violence, stalking, child abduction, sexual violence, or human trafficking; application; disclosure of records","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-515.2\/"},{"id":60670,"section_number":"22.1-289.041","catch_line":"Sex offender or child abuser prohibited from operating or residing in family day home; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-289.041\/"},{"id":59308,"section_number":"23.1-506","catch_line":"Eligibility for in-state tuition; exception; certain out-of-state and high school students","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-506\/"},{"id":75177,"section_number":"63.2-104.1","catch_line":"Confidentiality of records of persons receiving domestic and sexual violence services","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-104.1\/"},{"id":59659,"section_number":"63.2-1530","catch_line":"Virginia Child Protection Accountability System","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1530\/"},{"id":80887,"section_number":"8.01-42.4","catch_line":"Civil action for trafficking in persons","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-42.4\/"},{"id":80819,"section_number":"9.1-902","catch_line":"Offenses requiring registration","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-902\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":167709,"object_type":"law","relational_id":57212,"identifier":"18.2-355","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-355","url":"\/18.2-355\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-355\/","token":"18.2\/8\/3\/18.2-355","dublin_core":{"Title":"Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto; human trafficking","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-355","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Any person who:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> 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 <a id=\"paragraph-209581\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-355\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Takes or <span class=\"dictionary\">detains<\/span> a person against his or her will with the <span class=\"dictionary\">intent<\/span> 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 <a id=\"paragraph-209582\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-355\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> 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 <a id=\"paragraph-209583\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-355\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> For purposes of prostitution, takes any <span class=\"dictionary\">minor<\/span> into, or persuades, encourages, or causes any <span class=\"dictionary\">minor<\/span> to enter, a bawdy place, or takes or causes such person to be taken to any place for such purposes; is guilty of pandering.\n\t\t\tA violation of subdivision (1), (2), or (3) is punishable as a Class 4 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>. A violation of subdivision (4) is punishable as a Class 3 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-209584\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-355\/#4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTAKING, DETAINING, ETC., PERSON FOR PROSTITUTION, ETC., OR CONSENTING THERETO;\nHUMAN TRAFFICKING (\u00a7 18.2-355)\n\nAny person who:\n\n1. For purposes of prostitution or unlawful sexual intercourse, takes any person\ninto, or persuades, encourages or causes any person to enter, a bawdy place, or\ntakes or causes such person to be taken to any place against his or her will for\nsuch purposes; or\n\n2. Takes or detains a person against his or her will with the intent to compel\nsuch person, by force, threats, persuasions, menace or duress, to marry him or\nher or to marry any other person, or to be defiled; or\n\n3. Being parent, guardian, legal custodian or one standing in loco parentis of a\nperson, consents to such person being taken or detained by any person for the\npurpose of prostitution or unlawful sexual intercourse; or\n\n4. For purposes of prostitution, takes any minor into, or persuades, encourages,\nor causes any minor to enter, a bawdy place, or takes or causes such person to\nbe taken to any place for such purposes; is guilty of pandering.\n\t\t\tA violation of subdivision (1), (2), or (3) is punishable as a Class 4\nfelony. A violation of subdivision (4) is punishable as a Class 3 felony.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-204; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1980, c. 534;\n1997, c. 555; 2014, cc. 649, 706; 2015, c. 395.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}