The Mann Act and Caminetti v. United States: Policing Unmarried Couples
In short
In practice it could. In Caminetti v. United States (January 15, 1917), the Supreme Court held that the Mann Act's ban on interstate transport for an "immoral purpose" covered taking a mistress from Sacramento to Reno, even with no money involved. The current law, 18 U.S.C. § 2421, now refers to prostitution or criminal sexual activity instead.
What the full article will cover
- What was the Mann Act of 1910?
- What happened in Caminetti v. United States?
- Why did the Court read "immoral purpose" so broadly?
- How was the Mann Act used against unmarried couples?
- What does the Mann Act say today?
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Mann Act still in force?
- Who was Drew Caminetti?
- Why did Justice McKenna dissent?
Sources
- law.cornell.edu — https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/242/470
- law.cornell.edu — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2421
General information, not legal or religious advice.