Indiana courts could order prostitution-offender classes for unlawful-proposition convictions

Indiana courts would gain explicit authority to order people convicted of making an unlawful proposition to complete a prostitution-offender program at sentencing, under a bill (HB1269) that cleared the House 98-0 on February 2 and is now under Senate review. Defendants ordered into a program would have to pay a fee.

The court approves the program a defendant is sent to, leaving local courts to choose providers. The change targets the buyer side of prostitution prosecutions, where unlawful proposition is the typical charge.

Rep. Bauer was primary sponsor. Five additional legislators from both parties signed on as sponsors.