Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 568
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 568.175 (2026)

Trafficking in children, penalty

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  568.175.  Trafficking in children, penalty. — 1.  A person or entity commits the offense of trafficking in children if he, she, or it offers, gives, receives or solicits any money, consideration or other thing of value for the delivery or offer of delivery of a child to another person or entity for purposes of adoption, or for the execution of a consent to adopt or waiver of consent to future adoption or a consent to termination of parental rights.

  2.  An offense is not committed under this section if the money, consideration or thing of value or conduct is permitted under chapter 453 relating to adoption.

  3.  The offense of trafficking in children is a class D felony.

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(L. 1985 H.B. 366, et al. § 1, A.L. 1997 H.B. 343, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)

Effective 1-01-17

CROSS REFERENCE:

Application of law to adoption petitions filed on or after August 28, 1997, 453.012

(1988) Section 568.175, RSMo, prohibits delivery of a child to the person offering the money as well as to a third party as the phrase "to another person" means a person other than the one who has control of and is to deliver the child. State v. Daugherty, 744 S.W.2d 849 (MO.App.S.D.).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1988–2010 · leading case: Collins v. Missouri Bar Plan, 157 S.W.3d 726 (Mo. Ct. App. 2005).
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Collins v. Missouri Bar Plan, 157 S.W.3d 726 (Mo. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 8× “See § 568.175, RSMo 2000. Missouri is thus very solicitous of the notion that children are not chattels to be bartered or sold.”
State v. Daugherty, 744 S.W.2d 849 (Mo. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 10× “An amended information charged the defendant committed the class C felony of trafficking in children, § 568.175, by offering $1,000 for the purchase of a child with the purpose of adopting the child.”
J.O. v. Taney Cnty. Juv. Off., 315 S.W.3d 406 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “090[,] RSMo; or (7) A violation of section 568.175[,] RSMo. 2. For all other violations of offenses in chapters 566 and 568, RSMo, not specifically listed in subsection 1 of this section or for a violation of an offense committed in another state when a child is the victim that…”
In re Do, 315 S.W.3d 406 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “090[,] RSMo; or (7) A violation of section 568.175[,] RSMo. 2. For all other violations of offenses in chapters 566 and 568, RSMo, not specifically listed in subsection 1 of this section or for a violation of an offense committed in another state when a child is the victim that…”
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