{"id":373960,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-disorderly-conduct-indecent-exposure-prostitution-1.html"},"modified":"2018-07-20T16:08:12","modified_gmt":"2018-07-20T21:08:12","slug":"massachusetts-disorderly-conduct-indecent-exposure-prostitution-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-disorderly-conduct-indecent-exposure-prostitution-1.html","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts Disorderly Conduct, Indecent Exposure, and Prostitution Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Massachusetts Disorderly Conduct, Indecent Exposure, and Prostitution Laws<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    <p><i>Created by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw&#8217;s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n                | Last reviewed\n        <time>\n                            July 20, 2018\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Massachusetts is a very unusual state when it comes to handling the crimes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/disorderly-conduct.html\" target=\"_blank\">disorderly conduct<\/a> (disturbing the peace), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/indecent-exposure.html\" target=\"_blank\">indecent exposure<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/prostitution.html\" target=\"_blank\">prostitution<\/a>. Most states separate these crimes into their own individual laws. Not the Commonwealth. All crimes are penalized under one specific statute. Let&#39;s explore each one in a little more depth.<\/p>\r\n<h2>What is a Disorderly Person in Massachusetts?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Under Massachusetts state law, disorderly conduct is considered a &quot;disturbance of the peace&quot; offense and can arise out of several different situations and circumstances. Specifically, the law prohibits being a disorderly person.<\/p>\r\n<p>You are considered a disorderly person if you:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Engage in fighting,<\/li>\r\n<li>Threaten, or create violent or excessively noisy behavior,<\/li>\r\n<li>Create dangerous or offensive conditions without good reason in order to inconvenience, annoy, or alarm others,<\/li>\r\n<li>Accost or annoy another with offensive and disorderly acts or language, or<\/li>\r\n<li>Engage in lewd speech or behavior in public.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>What is Indecent Exposure in Massachusetts?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Although the law itself does not define \u201cindecent exposure,\u201d the Massachusetts courts describe it as \u201can intentional act of lewd exposure, offensive to one or more persons.\u201d Examples of indecent exposure might include public urination, various types of nudity, and more minor public sexual acts. The acts can occur in public or private &#8212; the location doesn&#39;t matter, merely the conduct.<\/p>\r\n<p>Remember, an individual\u2019s genitals must be intentionally exposed in order to be charged with this crime. Additionally, if your conduct is considered aggravated, you may be charged with a more serious crime of &quot;<a href=\"https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/Laws\/GeneralLaws\/PartIV\/TitleI\/Chapter272\/Section16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open and Gross Lewdness<\/a>.&quot;<\/p>\r\n<h2>What is Prostitution in Massachusetts?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Essentially, Massachusetts law defines prostitution as engaging in sexual conduct for a fee. This includes actually engaging, agreeing to engage, or simply offering to engage in sexual activity with another person for a fee. An offer of sex for sale must occur for anyone to be prosecuted, although sexual conduct doesn&#39;t need to actually happen. It is also a crime under this law to keep a house of prostitution. There are additionally crimes related to soliciting a prostitute under a <a href=\"https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/laws\/generallaws\/partiv\/titlei\/chapter272\/section53a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">separate law<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>The following table highlights the main provisions of Massachusetts disorderly conduct laws. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/disturbing-the-peace.html\" target=\"_blank\">Disturbing the Peace<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/public-intoxication.html\" target=\"_blank\">Public Intoxication<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/public-safety-violations.html\" target=\"_blank\">Public Safety Violations<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/sex-crimes.html\" target=\"_blank\">Sex Crimes<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\r\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"7\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody><tr><td><b>Code Sections<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><p>Massachusetts General Laws <a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ma\/part-iv-crimes-punishments-and-proceedings-in-criminal-cases-ch-263-280\/ma-gen-laws-ch-272-sect-53.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chapter 272, Section 53<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>What is Prohibited?<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><p><b>Disorderly Persons: (See Above)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Indecent Exposure:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p>Any person who:<\/p>\r\n<p>(1) Exposes his or her genitals to one or more persons<br>\r\n(2) Doing so intentionally<br>\r\n(3) Offended one or more persons.<\/p>\r\n<p><b>Prostitution:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p>Any person who:<\/p>\r\n<p>1) engages, agrees to engage, or offers to engage<br>\r\n2) in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee may be prosecuted for the misdemeanor of prostitution, whether sexual conduct occurs or not.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>Penalty<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><p>Misdemeanor, maximum penalty of up to 6 months in jail and $200 in fines. Sentence can be elevated for repeat offenders or elevated sex crimes.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n<p><i>Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<h2>Facing Disorderly Conduct, Prostitution or Indecent Exposure Charges? Get an Attorney&#39;s Help<\/h2>\r\n<p>Massachusetts criminal laws can sometimes get complicated, especially compared to jurisdictions that make distinctions between these separate and very different offenses. Because of this, it may be a good idea to consult an experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/massachusetts\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">criminal defense attorney<\/a> if you have questions about your specific situation.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" 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<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Massachusetts is a very unusual state when it comes to handling the crimes of disorderly conduct (disturbing the peace), indecent exposure, and prostitution. 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