18-7-204 CRS – Keeping a Place of Prostitution in Colorado

Section § 18-7-204 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) makes it a crime to operate or keep a place of prostitution. This offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 120 days of jail and/or a fine of up to $750.

18-7-204 (1) C.R.S. provides that:

(1) Any person who has or exercises control over the use of any place which offers seclusion or shelter for the practice of prostitution and who performs any one or more of the following commits keeping a place of prostitution if he:
(a) Knowingly grants or permits the use of such place for the purpose of prostitution; or
(b) Permits the continued use of such place for the purpose of prostitution after becoming aware of facts or circumstances from which he should reasonably know that the place is being used for purposes of prostitution.

CRS 18-7-204 makes it a crime to operate or keep a place of prostitution in Colorado.

Examples of places of prostitution

Any facility can be a place of prostitution if it offers seclusion or shelter for the practice of prostitution. Examples of common places of prostitution can include:

• A house, apartment or trailer,
• A hotel or motel room,
• A bordello, whorehouse or dungeon,
• An office,
• A rented party space, or
• Any secluded place on private property.

Penalties

Keeping a place of prostitution is a Colorado class 2 misdemeanor. Consequences of keeping a place of prostitution can include:

• Up to 120 days in jail, and/or
• A fine of up to $750.¹

Best Defenses

Common defenses to keeping a place of prostitution in Colorado include (but are not limited to):

• No prostitution took place on the premises,
• You didn’t control the property,
• The property was used without your knowledge or consent, or
• You didn’t know the location was being used for prostitution.

Related offenses

Colorado 18-7-204 C.R.S. keeping a place of prostitution is often charged along with other prostitution-related offenses. Some of these include (but are not limited to):

• Prostitution — 18–7–201, C.R.S.
• Pandering — 18–7–203, C.R.S.
• Pandering of a child — 18-7-403, C.R.S.
• Keeping a place of child prostitution — 18-7-404, C.R.S.

Colorado Legal Defense Group
4047 Tejon Street
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 222-0330