# When did different US states criminalize purchase of sex? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670 "2016-04-19T19:55:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/1 "2016-04-19T19:55:36Z")
Does anyone have any info? Sweden – 1999 South Korea – 2004 Norway – 2009 Iceland – 2009 North Ireland – 2014 Canada – 2014 France – 2016 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/2 "2016-04-19T20:03:31Z")
In Florida, prostitution was not illegal _per se_ until 1943, but in 1868 the legislature passed an act criminalizing “houses of ill repute” and both madams and hookers were typically charged under that statute. _See_ [State v. Warren](http://www.leagle.com/decision/1990613558So2d55_1600/STATE%20v.%20WARREN), 558 So.2d 55 (1990). You’ll find it quite difficult to find firm dates for most states, because sex crimes have typically been similarly haphazardly regulated. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/3 "2016-04-19T20:10:06Z")
Thanks – do you know when did different states pass statutes criminalizing the purchase? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/4 "2016-04-19T20:16:15Z")
Ah - you mean as opposed to the sale. In Florida, both have been illegal since 1943, as the legislature (somewhat unusually) defined prostitution as “the giving _or receiving_ of the body for sexual activity for hire.” ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/5 "2016-04-19T20:17:33Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Ah - you mean as opposed to the sale. In Florida, both have been illegal since 1943, as the legislature (somewhat unusually) defined prostitution as “the giving _or receiving_ of the body for sexual activity for hire.” Thank you very much. Where can I get info on all states (except of course Nevada). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/6 "2016-04-19T20:18:39Z")
This might be of interest: [Prostitution in the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_the_United_States) ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/7 "2016-04-19T20:23:49Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > This might be of interest: [Prostitution in the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_the_United_States) No dates given there. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/8 "2016-04-19T21:01:20Z")
For what it’s worth, it’s illegal in most of Nevada, too, including the most heavily-populated regions. There are no legal prostitutes in Vegas or Reno. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/9 "2016-04-19T22:57:51Z")
I believe the most recent state to make it illegal (buying and selling) was [RI in 2009](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Rhode_Island). > [@Chronos](#): > > For what it’s worth, it’s illegal in most of Nevada, too, including the most heavily-populated regions. There are no legal prostitutes in Vegas or Reno. Sure there are, they just have to drive over a county to go to work. It’s always been a free choice by the county government, so 2 additional counties (and the capital, which isn’t in a county) have made it illegal (I believe that in Clark and Washoe they can’t make it legal under current law even if they wanted to). 3 or so other counties don’t currently have ones so it is de facto not legal. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/10 "2016-04-20T00:20:42Z")
I know New York City has long had such laws (I have vague memories of old movies where there were scenes about the Vice Squad catching Johns). Here is the law: > **[New York Prostitution Laws - FindLaw](https://www.findlaw.com/state/new-york-law/new-york-prostitution-laws.html)** > > Chart providing details of New York Prostitution Laws Perhaps someone can find the date. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-different-us-states-criminalize-purchase-of-sex/752670/11 "2016-04-20T00:22:17Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I know New York City has long had such laws (I have vague memories of old movies where there were scenes about the Vice Squad catching Johns). Here is the law: > [http://statelaws.findlaw.com/new-york-law/new-york-prostitution-laws.html](http://statelaws.findlaw.com/new-york-law/new-york-prostitution-laws.html) > > Perhaps someone can find the date. Thanks – NY had such law by 1961.