Legal Definitions - procurer

A procurer is an individual who persuades, influences, or coerces another person to engage in an act, often one that is illegal, immoral, or exploitative. While the term can apply broadly to someone who causes another to do something, it is most commonly used in legal contexts to describe someone who facilitates or arranges for another person to engage in sexual acts for commercial purposes, often against their will or under duress.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a procurer:

• Example 1: Facilitating Commercial Sex Acts

  Imagine a scenario where an individual, let's call her Sarah, regularly connects clients with sex workers, arranging meetings, negotiating prices, and taking a percentage of the earnings for each introduction. Sarah does not directly engage in the sexual acts herself but acts as the intermediary.

  How it illustrates the term: Sarah is a procurer because she actively *induces* and *facilitates* the engagement of others in illicit sexual acts for commercial gain, serving as the link between the clients and the sex workers.

• Example 2: Coercion into Sexual Exploitation

  Consider a situation where a person named Mark befriends a vulnerable young adult who has recently arrived in a new city, offering them a place to stay and financial assistance. Over time, Mark gradually pressures and threatens the young adult into performing sexual acts for money, controlling their movements and confiscating their earnings.

  How it illustrates the term: Mark acts as a procurer because he *prevails upon* and coerces the vulnerable individual into engaging in illicit sexual acts through manipulation, control, and threats, exploiting their dependency.

• Example 3: Inducing Illegal Financial Activity

  Suppose a senior manager, Mr. Henderson, discovers a significant financial discrepancy in his department. To avoid personal accountability, he convinces a junior accountant, Ms. Chen, to falsify financial records to cover up the error, promising her a promotion if she complies and subtly implying negative consequences if she refuses.

  How it illustrates the term: Mr. Henderson is acting as a procurer because he *induces* Ms. Chen to commit an illegal act (falsifying records) through a combination of persuasion and implied threats, causing her to engage in an action she might not otherwise undertake.