A person generally commits the criminal offense of public lewdness or lewd conduct in public if the person knowingly engages in any of the following acts in a public place—or, if not in a public place, the person is reckless about whether another is present who will be offended or alarmed by the person’s (1) act of sexual intercourse; (2) act of deviate sexual intercourse; (3) act of sexual contact with a person’s own private parts or those of another.

Public lewdness laws vary from state to state, and some states define and charge such criminal offenses under indecent exposure laws. Public lewdness is usually a misdemeanor offense, but may be a felony offense under some circumstances. And in some states a conviction for public lewdness may require the defendant to register as a sex offender.

In Tennessee, public lewdness is typically addressed under the state's indecent exposure laws. According to Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-511, a person commits the offense of indecent exposure when they intentionally expose their genitals to another in a public place, and the exposure is likely to offend an ordinary viewer or is for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification. This law also covers the exposure of one's genitals to a person under the age of 13 when the offender is at least 18 years old. Indecent exposure is generally classified as a Class B misdemeanor for the first offense. However, if the individual has prior convictions or if the exposure is to a person under 13 and the offender is an adult, the offense can be elevated to a Class A misdemeanor or even a felony under certain circumstances. Additionally, if convicted, the individual may be required to register as a sex offender, depending on the specifics of the case and the presence of aggravating factors.