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 Connecticut, the criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor is addressed under various statutes concerning sexual offenses involving minors. Specifically, Connecticut law criminalizes sexual assault, which can include any act of sexual contact with a minor under certain circumstances. The law defines different degrees of sexual assault, with the severity depending on factors such as the age of the minor and the nature of the act. For instance, Connecticut General Statutes Section 53a-71 - Sexual assault in the second degree, includes situations where the victim is under 16 and the offender is more than three years older. The statutes also cover situations where the offender has a position of power or trust over the minor. Additionally, Connecticut law prohibits enticing a minor through an electronic device, which can include online interactions aimed at engaging in lewd acts. The age of consent in Connecticut is 16, and any sexual contact with children under this age, with certain exceptions for close-in-age relationships, may be prosecuted as a criminal offense. Penalties for lewd acts with a minor can range from imprisonment, fines, to mandatory registration as a sex offender.