Mann Act Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Mann Act, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Mann Act?

(n) Mann Act is the statute containing legal provisions connected with state crossing of women, under aged girls or boys for adultery or love-nesting. Mann Act provides punishment up to five years for crimes included in that Act.

History and Meaning of Mann Act

The Mann Act, also known as the White-Slave Traffic Act, is a federal law passed in 1910 that prohibits the transportation of individuals across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or any other immoral behavior. The Act was aimed to curb the trafficking of young women for immoral purposes, although it was often misused for targeting consensual sexual behavior between adults.

The Mann Act was named after James Robert Mann, a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois who sponsored the legislation. The Act has undergone many amendments and interpretations over the years, and today it is still enforced to prosecute individuals who engage in trafficking of individuals for sexual exploitation.

Examples of Mann Act

  1. A man is arrested for driving a woman across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.

  2. Two adults travel from one state to another with the intention of engaging in consensual sexual activity, and are charged with violating the Mann Act.

  3. A sex trafficker is found guilty of transporting underage girls across state lines for prostitution, and is sentenced to prison under the Mann Act.

Legal Terms Similar to Mann Act

  1. Anti-Trafficking Laws - These are legal provisions, both at the state and federal level, that aim to prevent trafficking of individuals for purposes of sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, or other forms of exploitation.

  2. Human Trafficking - This term refers to the practice of forcing or coercing individuals into activities such as prostitution or forced labor.

  3. Prostitution - This is the act of exchanging sexual services for money or other valuable items.