Legal Definitions - indecent liberties

Indecent liberties refers to inappropriate physical contact or conduct, particularly of a sexual nature, committed by one person toward another without their consent. While often associated with offenses against children, it can also apply to adults who are unable to consent due to impairment or other circumstances. The behavior is typically offensive, lewd, or sexually suggestive, and is intended to arouse, gratify, abuse, or exploit.

• Example 1: A youth sports coach, during practice, makes a young athlete uncomfortable by repeatedly touching them inappropriately under their uniform, despite the child's clear discomfort.

  Explanation: This illustrates indecent liberties because it involves an adult engaging in improper, sexually suggestive physical contact with a child, exploiting a position of trust.

• Example 2: An adult caregiver repeatedly forces a child to pose for sexually suggestive photographs, even without direct physical contact between the adult and child during the act of photography.

  Explanation: This demonstrates indecent liberties as it involves an adult compelling a child to engage in sexually exploitative behavior, which is a form of improper conduct of a sexual nature, even if there's no direct physical touching by the perpetrator.

• Example 3: At a party, an individual touches another adult in a sexual way while that person is unconscious due to intoxication, knowing they are incapable of giving consent.

  Explanation: This is an example of indecent liberties because it involves improper sexual contact with an adult who is unable to consent, highlighting the non-consensual and exploitative aspects of the offense, regardless of the victim's age.