A person commits the crime of indecent exposure by exposing the person’s body or private parts (usually genitals, anus, buttocks, or female breasts) in a public place and in the presence of another person who might be offended, alarmed, or annoyed. Laws vary from state to state—including definitions of exposed body parts—and some states require the exposure to have been made with the intent to attract attention or to sexually gratify the person making the indecent exposure, or to sexually gratify another person, or to offend another person.
Indecent exposure laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.
In Ohio, indecent exposure is addressed under Ohio Revised Code Section 2907.09, titled 'Public Indecency.' Under this statute, it is prohibited to recklessly expose one's private parts, engage in sexual conduct or masturbation, or engage in conduct that is likely to be viewed as lewd or offensive by others who are present. The law specifies that the exposure or conduct must occur in a place where the person can be viewed by others who are not members of the person's household and who would be offended or alarmed by the act. The intent behind the exposure, such as to attract attention, sexually gratify oneself or another, or to offend, can be a factor in determining the severity of the offense. Penalties for public indecency in Ohio can range from a minor misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the circumstances and whether the offender has prior convictions for similar offenses.
