A person generally commits the crime of prostitution by engaging in sexual contact or offering to engage in sexual contact in exchange for money or other consideration.

It is also a criminal offense to solicit (on a person's own behalf, or on behalf of another person), promote, or compel prostitution. For example, most states have laws that make it illegal to buy, sell, or profit from prostitution—which is generally the business of pimps and other human traffickers—known as pimping, pandering, procuring, soliciting, promoting, or compelling prostitution.

Prostitution laws vary from state to state and are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Delaware, prostitution and related activities are criminal offenses under state law. Prostitution is defined as the act of engaging in sexual conduct with another person in exchange for money or other consideration. This includes both the person offering sexual services and the person receiving them. Solicitation of prostitution, which involves requesting, encouraging, or demanding someone to engage in prostitution, is also illegal. Furthermore, Delaware law prohibits promoting prostitution, which can include activities such as operating a brothel, pimping, or pandering. This means that it is illegal to profit from or facilitate the prostitution of another person. The specific statutes detailing these offenses can be found in the Delaware Code, typically within the sections pertaining to sexual offenses or crimes against public morals and decency.