The passage of the Mann Act in 1910 forbade the transportation of women for immoral purposes across state lines. In the ensuing years, police clamped down on organized vice areas in the larger cities. Such raids failed to eliminate prostitution, and the business continued to thrive at a variety of locations. Prior to Prohibition organized crime, along with the political machines in most major cities, played a key role in organizing local prostitution and gambling activities. Prostitution occurs in a variety of formats and venues, including the streets, massage parlors, brothels, bars, and hotels.
Organized crime plays a minimal and somewhat tangential role in streetwalking.
We are more likely to find organized crime involvement at the higher levels of prostitution, those occurring in business establishments and those operating as organized networks of call girls. For example, consider the massage parlor as a site for prostitution. In many ways the massage parlor is an ideal setting for the provision of illicit sexual services. A massage parlor prostitute works for the owner or owners of the parlor, who are responsible for paying the masseuses, keeping the books, collecting the fees, and providing other services. Many massage parlors are independent businesses.