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 New Hampshire, prostitution is illegal under state law. According to NH RSA 645:2, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor if they engage in sexual contact for pay or agree to engage in sexual contact for pay. The law also criminalizes the actions of soliciting, promoting, or compelling another person to engage in prostitution. This means that not only are the acts of offering and engaging in sexual acts for consideration illegal, but so are the acts of pimping, pandering, and operating a prostitution business. The penalties for these offenses can include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the crime and the individual's criminal history. It's important to note that New Hampshire law may also have provisions for more severe penalties in cases involving minors or where coercion is involved.