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 Colorado, the criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor is addressed under the state's statutes concerning sexual offenses against children. Specifically, Colorado law defines 'Sexual Assault on a Child' under C.R.S. 18-3-405, which includes any actor who knowingly subjects another not his or her spouse to any sexual contact if the victim is less than fifteen years of age and the actor is at least four years older than the victim. Additionally, the statute C.R.S. 18-3-405.3 addresses 'Sexual Assault on a Child by One in a Position of Trust,' which pertains to offenders who have a position of trust in relation to the child. The law covers a range of inappropriate behaviors, including touching a child's body for sexual gratification, whether through clothing or on bare skin. Colorado also has laws against 'Internet Luring of a Child' under C.R.S. 18-3-306, which can include engaging in communication with a minor over the internet with the intent to commit sexual exploitation or sexual assault on a child. The state takes these offenses very seriously, and they are subject to severe penalties, including registration as a sex offender.