Published October, 2025
HIV Criminalization in Pennsylvania: Enforcement of “Prostitution and Related Offenses” Crimes, Williams Institute UCLA School of Law (October 2025)
Pennsylvania has several laws that criminalize or enhance criminal penalties for people living with HIV. Three of those laws enhance penalties for “prostitution and related offenses” based on a person’s HIV status. Using data from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, this study from the Williams Institute examines the enforcement of HIV-related prostitution and related offenses in Pennsylvania since 2015.
The study found that the state’s HIV-related prostitution and related offenses laws are disproportionately enforced based on gender and race. Women, especially white and Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women, appear to have been targets for enforcement.
“Prosecution of general prostitution offenses in Pennsylvania has dropped significantly in recent years, but cases involving HIV-related prostitution laws have not shown the same decline,” said lead author Jordan Grasso, Research Data Analyst at the Williams Institute. “Our findings also show that enforcement is disproportionately concentrated among specific demographic groups and geographic areas, suggesting factors beyond HIV prevalence and public health may play a part in enforcement of these laws.”
Read the report on the Williams Institute website.
This report is part of a series of reports examining the ongoing impact of state HIV criminalization laws on people living with HIV.
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