CRIMINAL LAW:

STATE: IL

Crimes against public morality - Discussion Board

Indiana also punishes patronizing a prostitute with the same penalties that apply to sex workers. Patronizing a prostitute is defined as a person who knowingly or intentionally pays, or offers or agrees to pay, another person for sexual intercourse or other deviate sexual conduct. In Banks v. State, Banks was convicted when in response to a female undercover officer's question "So are you good for head for $20?" he nodded and said, "'[Y]eah, we're good.'" (Banks v. State 975 N.E.2d 854 [Ind. Ct. App. 2012]). The Model Penal Code section 251.1 treats prostitution as a petty misdemeanor although section 251.5 treats patronizing prostitution as a violation subject only to a fine. The Model Penal Code reasons that this lenient treatment is consistent with the social acceptance of the sexual activity of males. The Model Penal Code notes that in practice, even when statutes require equal treatment for females and male customers, females are singled out for arrest and prosecution. Other individuals argue that law enforcement should focus on the upper-level individuals who profit from prostitution and traffic in prostitution. What is your view?