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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.
Code Section |
Montana Code section 45-5-504: Indecent Exposure |
What's Prohibited? |
Knowingly or purposefully exposing the person's genitals under circumstances in which the person knows the conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm in order to:
|
Penalties |
Punishable by a fine of up to $500, and/or imprisonment in jail for up to one year.
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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:
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.
State laws change frequently. For case specific information regarding Montana's indecent exposure laws contact a local criminal defense lawyer.
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