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 Maryland, indecent exposure is defined under Maryland Criminal Law Code § 11-107. A person is guilty of indecent exposure if they willfully and intentionally expose their private parts in a public place in the presence of others. The law is gender-neutral and typically applies to the exposure of genitals, but it can also apply to other private parts. Maryland law does not specifically require that the exposure be made with the intent to sexually gratify oneself or another, or to offend someone, although intent can be a relevant factor in determining the nature of the act. Indecent exposure is considered a misdemeanor in Maryland and can result in fines, imprisonment, or both. It is important to note that local ordinances may also have regulations regarding indecent exposure, and these can vary between jurisdictions within the state.