A person generally commits the criminal offense of public lewdness or lewd conduct in public if the person knowingly engages in any of the following acts in a public place—or, if not in a public place, the person is reckless about whether another is present who will be offended or alarmed by the person’s (1) act of sexual intercourse; (2) act of deviate sexual intercourse; (3) act of sexual contact with a person’s own private parts or those of another.

Public lewdness laws vary from state to state, and some states define and charge such criminal offenses under indecent exposure laws. Public lewdness is usually a misdemeanor offense, but may be a felony offense under some circumstances. And in some states a conviction for public lewdness may require the defendant to register as a sex offender.

In Alabama, public lewdness is addressed under Section 13A-6-122 of the Alabama Criminal Code. A person commits the offense of public lewdness if they knowingly engage in any act of sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, or sexual contact in a public place, or in a private place where they are reckless about whether another person present may be offended or alarmed by these actions. Public lewdness in Alabama is considered a Class C misdemeanor. While a conviction for public lewdness in Alabama typically does not require registration as a sex offender, the specific circumstances of the offense and the individual's criminal history could potentially influence the legal consequences. It is important to note that the definitions of 'public place' and the specific acts that constitute public lewdness can be subject to legal interpretation, and an attorney can provide guidance on how the law applies to specific situations.