<p>Research on child custody perceptions finds that individuals prefer joint custody, however, extralegal factors can influence these decisions. This study examines public opinion determinations of child custody in the United States through the lens of factors associated with women’s employment and involvement in illegal behavior. This study focuses on sex work, a form of stigmatized labor that has been a factor in child custody decisions. The current study employs an experimental vignette (n = 277 adults in the United States) to examine the relationship between stigmatized labor, including sex work and marijuana distribution, and child custody decisions. Both the legality of the labor as well as whether the mother is currently or formerly involved in that industry was manipulated. This study found that sex work, regardless of legality, was a predictor of preferring the father’s physical and legal custody. The rationale for these custody decisions centered largely on the impact of sex work on the relationship between the child and their peers. There was some evidence of lasting impacts of illegal behavior overall. These findings point to the need to reconcile objective assessments of parental fitness from personal values and address potential misinformation surrounding sex work.</p>