What Is Solicitation?

What Is Solicitation?

There are things out there that some people might want to do, but can't because it is illegal. For most people, that is enough for them to let the idea go altogether. However, some people still want to do whatever illegal thing it was that they were thinking of, and they might just have a way around the law. To stay out of trouble and still get the illegal task done, some people resort to hiring someone else to do the deed for them. They think this leaves them free and clear, but it does not. Hiring someone to commit a crime is just as illegal as committing the crime itself.

The Definition of Solicitation

The act of hiring or convincing someone else to commit a crime is referred to as solicitation. This crime is covered under 2 different laws, Penal Code (PC) 647 and PC 653(f). PC 647 is solely concerned with someone soliciting another person for lewd acts and/or prostitution. If a person tries to convince another person to commit a lewd or sexual act in public, then they are guilty of disorderly conduct. The same is true if a person tries to solicit another individual with prostitution. Meanwhile, PC 653(f) covers solicitation of pretty much every other criminal act. Some examples of crimes that are covered under this law include:

• Arson,
• Assault,
• Burglary,
• Extortion,
• Murder,
• Rape,
• Robbery,
• And theft.