Exhibitionism is characterized by achievement of sexual excitement through genital exposure, usually to an unsuspecting stranger. It may also refer to a strong desire to be observed by other people during sexual activity.

Exhibitionistic disorder involves acting on these urges with a non-consenting person or experiencing significant distress or functional impairment because of such urges and impulses.

Exhibitionists (usually male) may masturbate while exposing or fantasizing about exposing themselves to others. They may be aware of their need to surprise, shock, or impress the unwilling observer. The victim is almost always a female adult or a child of either sex. Actual sexual contact is rarely sought, and physical harm to the unsuspecting witness is unusual.

Onset is usually during adolescence; occasionally, the first act occurs during preadolescence or middle age.

About 30% of apprehended male sex offenders are exhibitionists. They have the highest recidivism rate of all sex offenders; about 20 to 50% are re-arrested. Although it is reported to occur, the vast majority of those with exhibitionism do not engage in physically aggressive sexual behaviors.

In order for the prosecutor to prove you are guilty of indecent exposure, they have to prove that you performed an act of masturbation in public, or knowingly exposed your genitals to the view of another person, under circumstances likely to cause affront or alarm, and with the intent to satisfy the sexual desire of any person.

The Statutes (Typical)

• 854. Indecent conduct

The actor engages in a sexual act, as defined in section 251. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class E crime;

The actor knowingly exposes the actor's genitals under circumstances that in fact are likely to cause affront or alarm. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class E crime

"Sexual contact" means any touching of the genitals or anus, directly or through clothing, other than as would constitute a sexual act, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire or for the purpose of causing bodily injury or offensive physical contact.

"Sexual touching" means any touching of the breasts, buttocks, groin or inner thigh, directly or through clothing, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire.

• 256. Visual sexual aggression against child.

A person is guilty of visual sexual aggression against a child if:

For the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire or for the purpose of causing affront or alarm, the actor, having in fact attained 18 years of age, exposes the actor's genitals to another person or causes the other person to expose that person's genitals to the actor and the other person, not the actor's spouse, has not in fact attained 14 years of age. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime.

For the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire, the actor, having in fact attained 18 years of age, exposes the actor's genitals to another person or causes the other person to expose that person's genitals to the actor and the other person, not the actor's spouse, has not in fact attained 12 years of age. Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime.

In a private place, the actor exposes the actor's genitals with the intent that the actor be seen by another person in that private place under circumstances that the actor knows are likely to cause affront or alarm. Violation of this paragraph is a Class E crime.

For purposes of this section "public place" includes, but is not limited to, motor vehicles that are on a public way.

The Criminal Justice System - Sex Offender

A criminal sex offender is a person who has been charged and convicted of, or has pled guilty to, a sex crime. A crime requiring mandatory sex offender registration can be anywhere from downloading pornographic material of persons under the age of 18 off the internet (child pornography) to rape and even non sexual offenses such as kidnapping, may require registration. The term sexual offender is a broad term, with sexual predator being used to describe a more severe physical or repeat sexual offense. Sexual offenders are also sometimes classified into levels, where the highest level offenders have the most aggravating crimes and thus, the most risk to the public and usually must register as a sex offender for their entire lives. Low level sexual offenders may serve only a probationary sentence and only register for 10 years as well as having less restrictions placed on them compared to higher lever offenders. As a label of identity it is used in criminal psychology. Especially in the United States and the United Kingdom, the person, if convicted, is most likely required to register with the respective jurisdiction's sex offender registry.

The Perpetrator - Geriatric Sex Offender

In recent years, the number of reported crimes involving geriatric offenders has increased, especially in sex related offences. Although there is a recent spate of sex offences, there has been minimal discussion with regard to sex offenders who commit their crimes in their golden years.

While the majority of the sex offenders are still committed by younger men, statistics show that nearly 4 percent (2858 persons)of the sexual crimes in United States in 2006 were age 60 and above

Although there are many different scenarios of elderly sex offenders, these incidents seem to suggest that elderly sex offenders frequently choose children as their victims and are more likely to do so than younger offenders.

Potential reasons given for this include the belief by the perpetrator that "elderly men are unattractive to adult females and fear rejection by them," the fact that "a 'grandfather' image tends to be more trust worthy than younger men and this increases the opportunity of committing sexual crimes. " and, most likely, because young victims are "less able to defend themselves, easier to bribe, more amenable to threats and less likely to report the incident."

Elderly sex offenders do not want to seek counseling or treatment! 

While elderly sex offenders only account for a small percentage of sexual crimes committed, it is definitely alarming that an elderly who has lived within the norms of society for their entire life can commit such horrendous acts at such a late stage in their life and turn into a “dirty old man.” Nevertheless, elderly sex offenders are generally less violent and their intention is never to harm their victims, the crime is committed purely out of personal gratification.

Without condoning aggressive sexual crimes in any way, it may be said in all objectivity that these men do not simply fail to exercise self-control, but go through the most painful and distressing emotional conflicts before they fling caution to the winds and engage in behavior which they themselves adjudge to be most reprehensible. The sexual offender is not master in his own home; he is powerless before the onslaught of forces within himself which make him disregard even the rules of self-preservation.

Late life first time offenders are a sub-group of older offenders who are arrested for their first criminal offense at 50 years of age or older. They may constitute up to half of the total population of older offenders throughout the U.S. criminal justice system

While the commission of most types of crimes tends to decline with age, sex offenses generally decline at a much lesser rate than other types of crimes. Studies have suggested that sex offenders are more likely to start committing their crimes, or to keep committing them, in their elder years. I) In the United States for the year 2006 there were 2,571 persons over the age of sixty who were arrested for sex offenses (excluding forcible rape and prostitution) and an additional 287 persons in the same age group who were arrested for forcible rape.

Elderly sex offenders (considered individuals over the age of sixty) and the crimes that they commit, as well as special problems and issues that offenders of this type and age present, live seemingly "normal" lives, raise families, are good standing members of their communities, and turn into "dirty old men" as they enter the final years of their lives.

While the vast majority of all sexual offenses are still committed by younger men, statistics show that nearly four percent (2858) of all persons arrested for sexual crimes in 2006 were age sixty and above

Generally, sex offences committed by elderly are more passive sexual activities as compared to younger sex offenders. For example, fondling by elderly offenders is more prevalent than intercourse.

Specific examples of these "nonviolent" offenses include improperly touching an acquaintance, statutory rape, exposing of the genitals (usually to a minor), and other acts of exhibitionism.

Elderly sex offenders most often select children as their victims and are more likely to do so than younger sex offenders.

Estimated prevalence in men is not more than 2 to 4%; it is lower in women. Few females are diagnosed with exhibitionistic disorder; society sanctions some exhibitionistic behaviors in females (through media and entertainment venues).