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 Mississippi, public lewdness is typically addressed under the state's indecent exposure laws. According to Mississippi Code Section 97-29-31, a person commits the offense of indecent exposure when they willfully and indecently expose their person in any public place, or in the presence of others, under circumstances in which such conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm. The law covers acts of sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, and sexual contact that occur in public or where there is a risk of being observed by others who may be offended or alarmed. Indecent exposure in Mississippi is considered a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, a person may face fines, imprisonment, or both. However, if the exposure is directed towards a child under the age of 16, it can be charged as a felony, potentially leading to more severe penalties. Additionally, certain sex offenses in Mississippi may require an individual to register as a sex offender, which can include indecent exposure depending on the circumstances of the case and the presence of aggravating factors.