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New York statute

N.Y. Penal Law § 235.21 — Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree

Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

Part of Article 235: Obscenity and Related Offenses, New York Penal Law.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 235.21

Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.

N.Y. Penal Law § 235.21Primary source, current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
235.21 Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree. A person is guilty of disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree when: 1. With knowledge of its character and content, he sells or loans to a minor for monetary consideration: (a) Any picture, photograph, drawing, sculpture, motion picture film, or similar visual representation or image of a person or portion of the human body which depicts nudity, sexual conduct or sado-masochistic abuse and which is harmful to minors; or (b) Any book, pamphlet, magazine, printed matter however reproduced, or sound recording which contains any matter enumerated in paragraph (a) hereof, or explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual excitement, sexual conduct or sado-masochistic abuse and which, taken as a whole, is harmful to minors; or 2. Knowing the character and content of a motion picture, show or other presentation which, in whole or in part, depicts nudity, sexual conduct or sado-masochistic abuse, and which is harmful to minors, he: (a) Exhibits such motion picture, show or other presentation to a minor for a monetary consideration; or (b) Sells to a minor an admission ticket or pass to premises whereon there is exhibited or to be exhibited such motion picture, show or other presentation; or (c) Admits a minor for a monetary consideration to premises whereon there is exhibited or to be exhibited such motion picture show or other presentation; or 3. Knowing the character and content of the communication which, in whole or in part, depicts actual or simulated nudity, sexual conduct or sado-masochistic abuse, and which is harmful to minors, he intentionally uses any computer communication system allowing the input, output, examination or transfer, of computer data or computer programs from one computer to another, to initiate or engage in such communication with a person who is a minor. Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree is a class E felony.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What class of felony is disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree in New York?

Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree is a Class E Felony in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 235.21.

Which New York statute covers disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree?

Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 235.21 (Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.