Montana Indecent Exposure Laws

In most states, indecent exposure laws make it a crime to display your genitals in public under circumstances that would be likely cause others to be alarmed or offended. Montana's indecent exposure law also requires that the act be done in order to harass another person, or for the offender's own sexual pleasure. Indecent exposure is a serious offense in Montana and is classified as a sex crime. The table below outlines Montana's indecent exposure law.

Sex Offender Registry

Federal law requires each state to maintain a registry for tracking convicted sex offenders within the state. Montana's Sexual or Violent Offender Registry requires various sex offenders, including some indecent exposure offenders, to register. Indecent exposure offenders are required to register in the following circumstances:

• If the victim of an indecent exposure act is less than 18 years old and the offender is 18 years old or older, or
• If this is the offender's third (or subsequent) conviction for indecent exposure

Public Urination

Can public urination count as an act of indecent exposure in Montana? The answer is probably not. While urinating in public does generally involve a person purposefully exposing their genitals in public, it is unlikely that the act would be done for the purpose of abusing another person, or to gratify the actor's own sexual desires.

Additional Resources

• Sex Offenders and Sex Offenses
• The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act
• State Indecent Exposure Laws

State laws change frequently. For case specific information regarding Montana's indecent exposure laws contact a local criminal defense lawyer.