NY State — NY Penal Law

§ 235.20 — Disseminating indecent material to minors; definitions of terms

Brooklyn since 2014All five boroughsSame-day response during business hours

Statute text reproduced from nysenate.gov. Not attorney-reviewed for your situation — for reference only.

Nacmias Law Firm does not practice criminal defense. For charges or pending criminal cases, consult a criminal defense attorney.

What is NY PL § 235.20?

Quick Answer

The following definitions are applicable to sections 235.21, 235.22, 235.23 and 235.24 of this article: 1. "Minor" means any person less than seventeen years old.

General informational summary. Not legal advice for your situation. Consult an attorney before acting on any specific matter.

Michael Nacmias - Founding PartnerMichael Sargo - Partner
From the team atNacmias Law Firm, PLLCBrooklyn-based attorneys representingproperty owners across all five boroughsMeet the team →

§ 235.20 Disseminating indecent material to minors; definitions of terms

PL § 235.20

§ 235.20 Disseminating indecent material to minors; definitions of terms.

The following definitions are applicable to sections 235.21, 235.22, 235.23 and 235.24 of this article:

1."Minor" means any person less than seventeen years old.

2."Nudity" means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area or buttocks with less than a full opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple, or the depiction of covered male genitals in a discernably turgid state.

3."Sexual conduct" means acts of masturbation, homosexuality, sexual intercourse, or physical contact with a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks or, if such person be a female, breast.

4."Sexual excitement" means the condition of human male or female genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.

5."Sado-masochistic abuse" means flagellation or torture by or upon a person clad in undergarments, a mask or bizarre costume, or the condition of being fettered, bound or otherwise physically restrained on the part of one so clothed.

6."Harmful to minors" means that quality of any description or representation, in whatever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse, when it:

(a)Considered as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest in sex of minors; and

(b)Is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors; and

(c)Considered as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political and scientific value for minors.

7.The term "access software" means software (including client or server software) or enabling tools that do not create or provide the content of the communication but that allow a user to do any one or more of the following:

Common Questions

Our team

Meet the people you will work with

Free case review

Talk to an attorney before you act on NYC code.

Free 15-minute case review with the attorney handling your matter. Same-day response during business hours across all five boroughs — OATH hearings, Housing Court, and real estate closings.

Or email us

[email protected]

An attorney reads every message.

  • Same-day response

    During business hours

  • Direct attorney access

    Same lawyer from intake to close

  • Flat-fee pricing

    On most OATH and closing matters