Legal Definitions - Pandering

Definition: Pandering is a criminal offense that involves either forcing someone to become a prostitute or arranging a situation where someone can practice prostitution. The laws regarding pandering vary from state to state. In some states, the panderer must expect to receive money for their actions, while in others, compensation is not required. The concept of pandering is different from pimping and soliciting.

• John offered to find a client for Jane in exchange for a portion of the money she would make. This is an example of pandering.
• Mike threatened to harm Sarah's family if she didn't work as a prostitute for him. This is also an example of pandering.

These examples illustrate how pandering involves either forcing or arranging for someone to engage in prostitution. In the first example, John is offering to arrange a situation where Jane can practice prostitution in exchange for a portion of the money she would make. In the second example, Mike is using threats to force Sarah to work as a prostitute for him.