Last Updated on: 26th July 2023, 10:03 pm

Queens Indecent Exposure Lawyers
Indecent exposure is not one of the worst crimes a person can commit, but it’s not one that’s taken lightly. It’s a version of a sex crime, and being found guilty of exposing one’s private body parts in a public location is something Queens law enforcement officials take very seriously. Indecent exposure is defined as the intentional showing of your sexual organs in a place that’s considered public, or in front of someone else who didn’t want to see these body parts. There are many forms of indecent exposure, and not all of them are meant to offend or come across as any form of sexual harassment or other indecency.
Punishments for Indecent Exposure
The simple definition of indecent exposure is showing genital areas in any public place. Bare breasts on both men and women are not considered indecent. It’s also not illegal to flash undergarments or underpants of any sort. It is, however, illegal for a man or woman to show off their genitalia in public or to another person without their consent or approval.
Of course, this comes with numerous grey areas. What happens when a man or woman can’t hold it any longer while on a road trip and has to pull over on the side of the road to use the bathroom and someone sees? Is this indecent exposure? Technically, it’s considered indecent exposure, but it’s usually a charge that’s easily dropped and overlooked due to the fact that you either went into the woods or used doors or jackets or other items to block your body from the view of the public.
There are many forms of punishment issued to those who are indecently exposing themselves in public. It’s typically considered a misdemeanor charge.
– Up to a year in jail
– Probation
– Fines
Some people are required to attend special education courses if they’re given a probation sentence. However, jail time can be increased if this is not your first encounter with the law. Even if you’ve been arrested and charged with a completely different crime in the past, it’s possible your sentence will be longer, more expensive, and stronger as a result of your prior convictions. A judge will consider your reputation in the community, your criminal background of lack thereof, and the circumstances surrounding the incident prior to sentencing.
Defenses Against Indecent Exposure
Many people are arrested and charged with this crime without any intent to cause harm to anyone else. It could be a young couple enjoying a little time in the backseat of their car parked in a dark parking lot without any clothes on doing nothing more than being intimate without the intent to harm. It could be a man who had a few too many drinks and chooses to use the bathroom behind a dumpster in an alley. It could be someone who was changing their clothes in the car on the freeway. Some people don’t mean to show off their genital areas in public, but it happened. There are defenses against this.
Lack of Intent – It’s relatively easy to prove a person had no intent to harm. The example of using the bathroom on the side of the road in the woods or hidden behind a car door is a lack of intent. The person did what they could to stop the public from viewing their genitalia. There was no intent, and most people will see this as the truth.
Mistake of Fact – Sometimes people make mistakes, and they shouldn’t pay for their mistakes as harshly as they might if it’s a criminal offense. For instance, if a grown man decides it would be hilarious to moon his friends by pulling down the back of his pants and showing his rear end to them as he drives by their house, he might think it’s funny. However, he might not know the neighbor’s kids are also in the yard visiting with their family, and they might see the man’s genitals by accident. This man wasn’t doing anything good, but he wasn’t trying to show children his body parts.
Lack of Awareness – In some instances, a person makes a poor choice due to intoxication. Perhaps a group of women get drunk and decide they want to go streaking. It’s a funny idea at the time, and it certainly isn’t meant to harm anyone else, but someone might call the police and report them for their poor behavior. If they can prove they were not aware they were in view of the neighbor or anyone else due to their level of intoxication, they might be able to get away with a reduced charge.
It’s often the fact that indecent exposure is a sex crime and sometimes means those convicted must register as a sex offender that hurts the most. A criminal defense attorney can help with this kind of case from working a defense to finding evidence and even witnesses that state it wasn’t an intentional act. Let an attorney help you fight this charge by taking on your case and allowing you to go about the rest of your life without this on your shoulders.
http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/indecent-exposure.html
https://criminal-law.freeadvice.com/criminal-law/violent_crimes/indecent-exposure-law.htm

Queens Indecent Exposure Lawyers: Protecting Your Reputation and Future

Indecent exposure might not be among the most heinous crimes, but it is not taken lightly either. As it falls under the category of sex crimes, Queens law enforcement officials treat it with extreme seriousness. Indecent exposure includes the willful display of one’s sexual organs in a public place or in front of someone who does not consent. Although this crime comes in many forms, the majority of them are not intended for offense or sexual harassment.

Punishments for Indecent Exposure – Is it Worth the Risk?

The straightforward definition of indecent exposure is revealing one’s genital areas in a public space. Note that exposing bare breasts for both men and women is not considered indecent. Flashing undergarments or underpants is legal. However, both men and women are prohibited from showing their genitalia in public or to someone without their consent.

The issue becomes a gray area in certain situations. Consider a scenario where a person cannot hold on any longer while on a road trip and pulls over to use the bathroom, but someone sees them. Is this indecent exposure? Technically, yes; however, it is often a charge that is easily dropped due to the person attempting to conceal themselves from public view.

The typical punishments for indecent exposure, which is generally considered a misdemeanor, could include:

• Up to a year in jail
• Probation
• Fines and additional education courses

Jail time may increase if the person has past encounters with the law. Prior convictions, even for unrelated offenses, could result in an extended, more expensive, and stronger sentence. Judges will consider factors such as one’s community reputation, criminal background, and surrounding circumstances before deciding the punishment.

Defending Against Shocking Accusations of Indecent Exposure

Some people may be charged with indecent exposure without any malicious intent. Examples include a couple sharing an intimate moment in a car, someone changing their clothes in their vehicle, or a person relieving themselves behind a dumpster. In these cases, there are potential defenses:

Lack of Intent

A common defense is that the person did not intend harm by revealing their genitalia in a public setting. For example, if someone attempts to hide their body while using the bathroom on the side of the road, it could be considered a lack of intent. Most people would recognize this as a reasonable conclusion.

Mistake of Fact

Some people may expose themselves by accident, and their mistakes should not be treated as harshly as intentional offenses. For instance, if a man moons his friends without knowing the neighbors’ kids are also present, he may not mean to expose himself to the children. This is another common defense.

Lack of Awareness

Poor decisions resulting from intoxication may also lead to reduced charges. For example, if a group of intoxicated people engages in streaking without realizing they are in view of others, the charges could potentially be reduced or dropped.

Individuals accused of indecent exposure often face the devastating possibility of being labeled as a sex offender. It is essential to have a qualified criminal defense attorney to help with these cases by mounting a robust defense, finding evidence, and calling upon witnesses to testify to the lack of intent. Let an attorney help you fight the charges and avoid carrying the burden of a sex crime for the rest of your life.

Sources:

http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/indecent-exposure.html

https://criminal-law.freeadvice.com/criminal-law/violent_crimes/indecent-exposure-law.htm