Penal Law § 230.20

Promoting prostitution in the fourth degree · as in force on May 31, 2026

§ 230.20 Promoting prostitution in the fourth degree.

A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the fourth degree when he or she knowingly:

1. Advances or profits from prostitution; or

2. With intent to advance or profit from prostitution, distributes or disseminates to ten or more people in a public place obscene material, as such terms are defined by subdivisions one and two of section 235.00 of this title, or material that depicts nudity, as such term is defined by subdivision one of section 245.10 of this part.

Promoting prostitution in the fourth degree is a class A misdemeanor.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/230.20

In plain English

A person commits promoting prostitution in the fourth degree by knowingly:

(1) advancing or profiting from prostitution; or
(2) intending to do so and distributing in a public place, to 10 or more people, obscene material defined by § 235.00(1) and (2) or material depicting nudity as defined by § 245.10(1). ★

The offense is a class A misdemeanor.

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 4 — The Court Clerk: Penal Law; Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 3 — The Court Officer: Penal Law; Volume 3 — Your Career: Penal Law in Plain English.