New Jersey criminal charge

Lewdness in New Jersey

Current through 2026 New Jersey legislative session

Lewdness is a criminal offense under New Jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4. Its classification is not fixed: New Jersey assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.

Defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4.

What is the penalty for lewdness in New Jersey?

Penalties for Lewdness
Penalty	Range	Basis	Authority
Jail / prison	up to 6 months (Lewdness — general offensive act — The person commits a flagrantly lewd and offensive act likely to be observed by nonconsenting persons who would be affronted or alarmed.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court)	discretionary	N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Fine	up to $1,000 (Lewdness — general offensive act — The person commits a flagrantly lewd and offensive act likely to be observed by nonconsenting persons who would be affronted or alarmed.)	discretionary	N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Jail / prison	up to 18 months (Lewdness — exposure observed by child under 13 — The actor exposes his intimate parts for sexual arousal/gratification knowing or expecting to be observed by a child under 13, being at least four years older than the child.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))	discretionary	N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fine	up to $10,000 (Lewdness — exposure observed by child under 13 — The actor exposes his intimate parts for sexual arousal/gratification knowing or expecting to be observed by a child under 13, being at least four years older than the child.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))	discretionary	N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6

Applies to current.

How is lewdness classified in New Jersey?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Lewdness
Variant	Classification	When it applies	Statute
Lewdness — general offensive act	Disorderly Persons Offense	The person commits a flagrantly lewd and offensive act likely to be observed by nonconsenting persons who would be affronted or alarmed.	N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4undefined
Lewdness — exposure observed by child under 13	Crime of the Fourth Degree	The actor exposes his intimate parts for sexual arousal/gratification knowing or expecting to be observed by a child under 13, being at least four years older than the child.	N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4undefined

Common questions about lewdness in New Jersey

What degree of offense is lewdness in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: lewdness ranges from a Disorderly Persons Offense to a Crime of the Fourth Degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4.

Lewdness — general offensive act: Disorderly Persons Offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4) · Lewdness — exposure observed by child under 13: Crime of the Fourth Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4)

What are the penalties for lewdness in New Jersey?

Penalties for lewdness in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a Disorderly Persons Offense up to a Crime of the Fourth Degree — with the ranges set by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 and N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which New Jersey statute covers lewdness?

Lewdness is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4 (Lewdness).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.