New Jersey Revised Statutes § 2C:34-1 Prostitution and Related Offenses

Section 2C:34-1 of the New Jersey Criminal Code sets out the state’s laws on prostitution and its related crimes. It is illegal to engage in prostitution, to promote or profit from it, or to compel another person to participate in sexual activity for money or anything of value. When coercion or exploitation is proven, human trafficking serves as an affirmative defense. Penalties depend on the severity of the conduct, with fines imposed under § 2C:43-3 and municipal courts handling collections in lower-level cases. Beyond those fines, anyone convicted must also pay a mandatory penalty between $10,000 and $50,000, and at least $25,000 if the case involves promoting the prostitution of a minor. The money collected supports the Human Trafficking Survivors Assistance Fund, which provides aid and services to victims. This law combines enforcement with restitution, targeting both commercial sexual exploitation and the systems that profit from it.