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 Texas, indecent exposure is defined under Section 21.08 of the Texas Penal Code. A person commits the offense of indecent exposure if they expose their anus or any part of their genitals with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, and they are reckless about whether another person is present who will be offended or alarmed by the act. It is important to note that mere nudity without the intent to sexually arouse or gratify is not enough to constitute indecent exposure under Texas law. The offense is considered a Class B misdemeanor, which can result in a fine, jail time, or both. Additionally, a conviction for indecent exposure can have serious implications, including the potential requirement to register as a sex offender.
