Prostitution

in most places in America both the buyer and the seller of sex are criminals, so that would be a no.

hawkeye10--
Thank you.

It was also my understanding that the transaction was criminal for both parties to it. Accordingly, neither party would generally "turn the other in" because to do so would be to confess to a crime by the snitch.

But people aren't always rational. I think the belief in human rationality is often not substantiated by the facts. People often make decisions not based on rationality but on emotion, revenge, hatred, and short-sightedness. The million plus persons in jail in the United States, large numbers of unwanted pregnancies and transmission of sexual diseases, smoking, unhealthy eating habits, and lack of exercise by a large numbers proportion of the population corroborates my view.

about a month ago I was reading that some locale was trying something new....they assume that the prostitutes are victims (economic or otherwise) thus try to get them help but don't put them in the justice system. Buyers on the other hand are prosecuted to the full extent of the law, including using public humiliation.

Was B's agreement to have sex with A conditioned on receiving that money from A? If so, then it was probably against the law (local laws vary widely throughout the world, so I can't give any kind of definitive answer unless you specify the jurisdiction). On the other hand, if A and B agree to have sex, and then A gives B money afterward simply out of generosity or guilt or whatever, I don't see the necessary quid pro quo here.