What is Solicitation?
Unfortunately, you’ve been charged with solicitation. You’re probably wondering what steps you should take and where you can turn. Learn everything you need to know about solicitation and what to do about it.
Solicitation is a crime in which one party seeks out another party in an attempt to get them to commit a criminal act.
There are two aspects of solicitation:
- Having the intention of getting someone else to commit a crime
- An act that is committed in order to convince another person to commit a crime.
A charge of solicitation is serious, and can be considered either a misdemeanor or felony. If you have been accused of solicitation, you could face severe consequences, including jail time. Understanding the ins and outs of a solicitation charge and what that could mean for you is essential.
There are many ways that a person can commit solicitation. In fact, once someone has the intention of convincing someone else to commit a crime, it is fairly easy to become involved in solicitation. Essentially, they must only convince another person to commit a crime, which can happen through a request, a suggestion, threats, commands, force, or even encouragement. Once a person attempts any way to get another person to commit a crime, they have commited the crime of solicitation.
It’s important to understand that the propositioned party does not need to actually commit the crime, or even agree to commit the crime, for solicitation to occur. The crime of solicitation only requires that the first party tries to convince the second to commit the crime. Nothing is required by the second party for solicitation to occur.
If someone asks someone else to rob a bank for them and the second party refuses, the first party has committed the crime of solicitation. Many people think that if the crime requested is never commited, they cannot be charged with solicitation. Understand that the crime of solicitation is simply making the mere suggestion that the other party commit a crime, and anyone who attempts to get that crime to happen can be charged.
What is solicitation to commit a crime?
A person can be charged with solicitation to commit a crime when they “encourage, solicit, request, command, importune, or otherwise attempt to cause” someone to commit a crime. It is known as an inchoate offense.
Does the requested crime need to be committed for the instigator to be charged with solicitation?
No, the intended crime does not need to be committed or even agreed to. If the instigator simply asks the person to commit a crime, they can be charged with solicitation.
Is prostitution solicitation?
Prostitution and solicitation often go hand in hand. The crime of solicitation occurs when one party requests that another party engages in sex for money.
What is a favorable defense for solicitation?
Solicitation defendants can claim that they did not commit the act of solicitation that they are being charged with. They can also claim that they did commit the act but that they did not have any criminal intent when they did.
Sometimes the defendant will not be held responsible for solicitation if they take back the suggestion of the crime and inform the other party that they no longer want them to commit the crime.
What criminal defense firm should I use for my solicitation charge?
If you have been charged with solicitation, you will want to hire a professional criminal defense firm to fight for you. An experienced criminal defense attorney will be able to evaluate the facts of your case and the evidence against you, in order to determine the best possible defense.
Windsor Troy is a top criminal defense firm with experience in defending people who have been charged with solicitation. They have the expertise to help you with your case in order to help you gain desirable results. You want to put your solicitation charge behind you. Windsor Troy has the knowledge and skill to help you move forward.
