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 Louisiana (LA), prostitution is illegal under the state's criminal laws. According to the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically under Title 14:82, a person commits the crime of prostitution by engaging in, offering, or agreeing to engage in sexual intercourse or any lewd act with another person in exchange for money or other items of value. The law also criminalizes the solicitation, inducement, or promotion of prostitution. This includes actions such as pimping, pandering, and procuring, where individuals may be charged for facilitating or arranging the exchange of sex for compensation, or benefiting from such activities. Penalties for these offenses can range from fines to imprisonment, depending on the severity of the crime and the individual's criminal history. It's important to note that Louisiana law also addresses human trafficking, which is a separate but related offense that involves compelling or coercing a person to engage in commercial sex acts.