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 Oregon, prostitution is illegal under ORS 167.007, which defines the crime of prostitution as engaging in, or offering to engage in, sexual contact or conduct with another person in return for a fee, or agreeing to do so. The law also criminalizes the act of purchasing sex, making it illegal to pay, or offer to pay, a fee to engage in sexual conduct, as outlined in ORS 167.008. Furthermore, Oregon law prohibits various activities related to prostitution, such as promoting prostitution (ORS 167.012), compelling prostitution (ORS 167.017), and commercial sexual solicitation (ORS 167.008). These laws target not only those who engage in prostitution but also those who facilitate or profit from it, such as pimps and traffickers. Penalties for these offenses can range from fines to imprisonment, depending on the severity of the crime and the individual's criminal history.