The information on this page is reprinted from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children web site
FEDERAL
Each state and the federal government criminalize some aspect of child prostitution. The Mann Act is a federal law that prohibits the transportation of individuals younger than the age of 18 in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that the individual engage in prostitution or any sexual activity. The Mann Act is the primary federal law that makes child prostitution a federal offense. The Mann Act is important because it provides that equal federal protection is granted to very young children and children in their teens. This equal protection is not always granted in state statutes, since some states have consent ages that are lower than 18.
(Source: Davidson, Howard and Gregory Loken. Child Pornography and Prostitution: Background and Analysis. Arlington, Virginia: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 1987, pp. 66-68.)
Below is a summary of the federal statutes that relate to child prostitution.
18 USC 2422
Coercion and enticement. Prohibits enticing, persuading, inducing, etc. any person to travel across a state boundary for prostitution or for any sexual activity for which any person may be charged with a crime.
18 USC 2423
Transportation of minors. Prohibits transporting a minor across state lines for prostitution or any sexual purpose for which any person may be charged with a crime. Travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a juvenile. Prohibits traveling in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a person younger than 18 years of age.
18 USC 2243
Sexual abuse of a minor. This criminalizes assaults on children and youth on federal property, airliners, etc.
Adapted from Child Sexual Exploitation: Improving Investigations and Protecting Victims by the Education Development Center, Inc. Reprinted with permission of the U.S. Justice Department, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime. Copyright (c) 1995. All rights reserved.
STATE
State laws are generally broader and focus on persons who advance, promote, or induce prostitution. Unfortunately, state laws infrequently penalize patrons of child prostitution; however, it may be possible to prosecute patrons of child prostitutes under child sexual abuse or statutory rape laws.
Excerpted from Child Sexual Exploitation: Improving Investigations and Protecting Victims by the Education Development Center, Inc. Reprinted with Permission of the U.S. Justice Department Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime. Copyright (c) 1995. All rights reserved.
For information on the child pornography laws in your state please contact one of these agencies.
National Association of Counsel for Children
1205 Onieda Street
Denver, CO 80220
Telephone: 303-322-2260
Toll-free: 1-888-828-NACC
Fax: 303-329-3523
Web Site: http://nacchildlaw.org
The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect
PO Box 1182
Washington, DC 20013-1182
Telephone: 703-285-7565
Fax: 703-385-3206
Toll-free: 1-800-FYI-3366
Web Site: http://www.calib.com/nccanch
E-mail: [email protected]
The National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Suite 510
99 Canal Center Plaza
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: 703-739-0321
Fax: 703-549-6259
Web Site: http://www.ndaa-apri.org
National Conference of State Legislatures
Suite 700
1560 Broadway
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: 303-830-2200
Fax: 303-863-8003
Web Site: http://www.ncsl.org