Pimping is also illegal as it has commonly led to violence against the prostitute or Johns and it is often steeped in drug use or providing drugs to the prostitute to keep her hooked and willing to perform sex in exchange for those drugs.
LEVELS
There are many types of prostitutes. The street prostitutes walk around on city streets soliciting customers who drive by in cars. They generally have a room or access to a hotel nearby or they will get into the vehicle and perform acts of sex for money.
There are also brothels in some parts of the world as well as Nevada.
Brothels are controlled houses or environments in which prostitutes work. They have an older woman, called a madam who oversees the operation and handles the bookkeeping.
High priced prostitutes generally obtain college degrees, speak several languages and are hired through a pimp called a recruiter. He is connected to high end corporations that will call him and tell him they want a particularly lucrative client to be happy. The prostitute will accompany said client on cruises or trips, is extremely presentable at dinner parties, social gatherings and of course is willing to service the client in the bedroom.
Finally there are escort prostitution services. The escort services provide an escort to appear at the caller's home or hotel room and is in theory there to provide company or go to dinner. However, the escort is actually a prostitute that will perform sex for money (Prostitution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution).
Stings cross the nation target street prostitutes and escort services on a regular basis.
When a sting occurs the prostitute is charged with prostitution and the customer who is with him or her at the time of the arrest is charged with...
One group believes that it is an immoral and low class activity and should be illegal until the end of time. Pointing to HIV infection, drug issues and the violence that can often accompany the work those who are against it believe to legalize it would open the doors to allowing side activities as well. They believe legalizing prostitution will in escence condone the use of drugs and seedy lifestyles.
Those who believe it should be legalized point to the fact that drugs are prevalent outside of prostitution as well. They believe it is a victimless crime and if it were legal the government would be able to monitor health checks and collect taxes.
It is interesting to note the sematics of the profession. If a woman chooses one boyfriend and sleeps with him every Friday night as long as he is willing to pay her rent, her car payment and buy her clothing as well as other needs she is not considered a prostitute. If a woman decides instead of having just one man pay all of her expenses she will sleep with 30 men a month on the condition they provide her with the cash to pay the same bills she is considered a prostitute.
CONCLUSION
Prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world. It is a profession that at one time in world history was considered as honorable as any other line of work but over time fell out of favor and today is considered immoral and disgraceful.
Regardless of the side one sits on when it comes to the morality of the profession it remains illegal in all but one state in the country.
References
Prostitution (Accessed 10-6-06)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution
