H1558: An Act to Define Inducing a Minor into Prostitution
In response to a 2011 Appeals Court decision, this bill provides a much needed clarification to this criminal statute by broadening the circumstances under which someone can be prosecuted for inducing a minor into prostitution. Currently G.L. c. 272, section 4A, reads in part that “whoever induces a minor to become a prostitute, or who knowingly aids and assists in such inducement, shall be punished. . .” In 2011, the Appeals Court adopted a narrow interpretation of the words in the statute “become a prostitute” to mean that the prosecution would need to offer proof that the minor had never engaged in prostitution before. The bill would eliminate this “defense” by amending the statute. The bill replaces “induce a minor to become a prostitute” with “induce a minor to engage in or to agree to engage in or offer to engage in prostitution or in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee.”
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