The criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor, or lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, is generally committed when (1) the offender touches the child’s body or gets the child to touch the child’s body, the offender’s body, or someone else; (2) the touching occurs on bare skin or through clothing; (3) the touching was for sexual reasons; and (4) the child was under 14 years of age.

Laws regarding lewd acts with a minor vary from state to state, including the required age of the child and the required elements of the criminal offense. And some states classify the criminal offense of lewd acts with minor as the criminal offense of indecency with a minor, or lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child, or a similar offense.

Some states have expanded the definition of these laws to include looking at the body or private parts of a child in a sexual manner, or causing or forcing a child to witness sex acts in the presence of the child. These states prosecute persons who engage in such activity in online video chat rooms for this criminal offense.

The criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor (or similar offense) is generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Arkansas, the criminal offense of engaging in lewd or lascivious acts with a minor is addressed under the state's sexual assault laws. Specifically, Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-14-110 outlines the offense of sexual indecency with a child, which occurs when an individual, with the purpose to arouse or gratify sexual desire, exposes a sex organ to a child less than 15 years of age, or proposes that a child less than 15 years of age engage in sexual activity. Additionally, Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-14-103 defines sexual assault in the fourth degree, which includes engaging in sexual contact with a minor who is not the spouse of the offender and is less than 16 years old. The law in Arkansas also covers offenses involving electronic means, such as internet chat rooms, under statutes related to computer child pornography and internet stalking of a child. Penalties for these offenses vary based on the specific nature of the crime and the age of the minor involved, with more severe penalties for offenses involving younger children or more egregious conduct.