Tennessee § 39-13-512 - Prostitution — Definitions.
Full text of Tennessee Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-512 — Prostitution — Definitions., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 39-13-512. Prostitution — Definitions.
As used in §§ 39-13-512 — 39-13-515 , unless the context otherwise requires: “House of prostitution” means any place where prostitution or the promotion of prostitution is regularly carried on by one (1) or more persons under the control, management or supervision of another; “Inmate” means, within the meaning of this part concerning prostitution, a person who engages in prostitution in or through the agency of a house of prostitution; “Patronizing prostitution” means soliciting or hiring another person with the intent that the other person engage in prostitution, or entering or remaining in a house of prostitution for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity; “Promoting prostitution” means: Owning, controlling, managing, supervising, or in any way keeping, alone or in association with others, a business for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, or a house of prostitution; Procuring an inmate for a house of prostitution; Encouraging, inducing, or otherwise purposely causing another to become a prostitute; Soliciting a person to patronize a prostitute; Procuring a prostitute for a patron; or Soliciting, receiving, or agreeing to receive any benefit for engaging in any of the activities defined in subdivisions (4)(A)(i)-(v); and “Promoting prostitution” does not include a person who solicits, procures, induces, encourages, or attempts to cause another to patronize a prostitute if: The person promoting the prostitute and the prostitute being promoted are the same person; and The intent of the promotion is the solicitation of business for only the prostitute engaging in the promotion; “Promoting prostitution of a minor” means engaging in any of the activities described in subdivision (4) when one (1) or more of the persons engaged in prostitution is less than eighteen (18) years of age or has an intellectual disability; “Prostitution” means engaging in, or offering to engage in, sexual activity as a business or being an inmate in a house of prostitution or loitering in a public place for the purpose of being hired to engage in sexual activity; and “Sexual activity” means any sexual relations including homosexual sexual relations. Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1995, ch. 296, § 1; 2011, ch. 377, § 3; 2016, ch. 979, § 1. Compiler's Notes. Acts 2011, ch. 377, § 5 provided that the act, which added the definition of “promoting prostitution of a minor”, shall apply to any acts committed on or after June 1, 2011. Law Reviews. Dignity, and Danger: Human Dignity as a Constitutional Constraint to Limit Overcriminalization, 80 Tenn. L. Rev. 291 (2013).
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee § 39-13-512
What does Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-512 cover?
Section 39-13-512 ("Prostitution — Definitions.") is part of the Tennessee Code Annotated, the codified statutory law of Tennessee. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Tennessee § 39-13-512?
A common citation format is "Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-512" (Tennessee). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Tennessee law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Tennessee official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Tennessee attorney.
How does Tennessee § 39-13-512 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Tennessee can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Tennessee.