Utah legal term
Pornographic in Utah Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Utah legislative session
In Utah criminal law, “Pornographic” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Utah criminal code.
What does “Pornographic” mean in Utah criminal law?
"Pornographic" means: (16)(a) the average individual, applying contemporary community standards, finds that, taken as a whole, the material or performance appeals to prurient interest in sex; (16)(b) the material or performance is patently offensive in the description or depiction of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, sadomasochistic abuse, or excretion; and (16)(c) taken as a whole the material or performance does not have serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-101)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Distributing pornographic material
- Distribution of a pornographic film for exhibition
- Aiding or abetting a minor in distributing pornographic material or obscene animal abuse material
- Fee owner or intermediate lessor allowing real property to be used for illicit pornographic purposes
- Inducing acceptance of pornographic material or obscene animal abuse material
- Pornographic or indecent material on school property
- Tenant or occupant failing to exit real property after using the property for obscene animal abuse material or pornographic purposes
- Conspiracy to commit an obscene animal abuse material or pornographic or harmful materials violation
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.