Penalty Info

Home / Brazil / Pimping and sexual exploitation (lenocínio, casa de prostituição, rufianismo)

Pimping and sexual exploitation (lenocínio, casa de prostituição, rufianismo)Possibly — unconfirmed

Possibly — unconfirmed

Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.

Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed

Art. 227 caput — induzir / atrair alguém à prostituição ou outra forma de exploração sexual, facilitá-la, impedir / dificultar que alguém a abandonePossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
Reclusão 1–3 years
Fine
Multa if for profit

§1: 2–5 years (victim over 14 and under 18, or agent is ascendant / stepfather / stepmother / sibling / spouse / partner / tutor / curator / guardian / employer / person with authority). §2: 2–8 years (violence / grave threat / fraud). §3: + multa if for profit.

Art. 228 caput — induzir / atrair alguém à prostituição ou outra forma de exploração sexual, facilitá-la ou impedir / dificultar que alguém a abandone, with violence / grave threat / fraudPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
Reclusão 2–5 years
Fine
Multa

§1: 3–8 years (victim over 14 and under 18, or listed authority relationship). §2: 4–10 years (violence). §3: + multa if for profit.

Art. 229 — manter, por conta própria ou de terceiro, estabelecimento em que ocorra exploração sexual, com or without profit / direct mediationPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
Reclusão 2–5 years
Fine
Multa

Art. 230 caput — rufianismo (living off the prostitution / sexual exploitation of another, participating directly in its profits or being sustained, wholly or partly, by whoever practises it)Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
Reclusão 1–4 years
Fine
Multa

§1: 3–6 years (victim over 14 and under 18, or listed authority relationship). §2: 2–8 years (violence / grave threat / fraud) + multa + violence penalty.

Note on this entry

One category covering CP arts. 227–230. Arts. 231–232 (trafficking for prostitution) are REVOKED — trafficking now sits in art. 149-A (separate entry). Prostitution itself is not a crime in Brazil.

Source

Statute
Código Penal, arts. 227–230
Official source
Secondary sources quoting CP text
Verification status
All tiers corroborated only by secondary sources quoting CP text; re-check against Planalto before treating as verified.
Last verified
2026-10-19
Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors, concurrence with human trafficking (art. 149-A) where the conduct fits both, discretion, plea-type agreements. If you face a real charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.