Louisiana
Louisiana Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 20, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 20, 2026. · 7 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Louisiana treats sexting among minors differently from adult offenses. La. R.S. § 14:81.1.1 creates a dedicated juvenile sexting statute covering persons under 17, separating consensual teen image sharing from felony child pornography charges and channeling self-produced image cases through a non-criminal family services process rather than delinquency court.
Louisiana is one of a handful of states with a specific sexting statute designed for minors. La. R.S. § 14:81.1.1 separates teen sexting from felony child pornography charges, treating it as a less serious offense when both parties are under 17. However, Louisiana's legal landscape for sexting is more complex than it appears. The state's 2024 rollback of the "Raise the Age" law means 17-year-olds are now prosecuted as adults, creating a sharp dividing line that catches many high school students off guard.
This guide covers every Louisiana statute that applies to sexting, from the teen-specific misdemeanor to felony child sexual abuse materials charges, revenge porn laws, and related offenses.
Louisiana Teen Sexting Law (La. R.S. § 14:81.1.1)
Louisiana enacted La. R.S. § 14:81.1.1, titled "Sexting; prohibited acts; penalties," to address cases where minors share explicit images with other minors. The statute recognizes that charging teenagers as sex offenders for consensual image sharing is often disproportionate. It applies only to individuals under the age of 17.
The law prohibits a person under 17 from knowingly and voluntarily:
- Using a computer or phone to transmit an "indecent visual depiction" of themselves to another person.
- Possessing or transmitting an indecent visual depiction that was originally sent by another person under 17.
These two categories carry different consequences, which is one of the most important distinctions in the statute.
What Counts as an "Indecent Visual Depiction"?
The statute defines "indecent visual depiction" as any photo, video, or digital image of a person under 17 engaging in "sexually explicit conduct." It then defines that conduct as a closed list of only two things:
- Masturbation
- Lewd exhibition of the genitals, pubic hair, anus, vulva, or female breast nipples
The list is short, but it is easy to satisfy. A photo does not need to show a sexual act to qualify. A nude or semi-nude selfie that exposes the listed body parts meets the statutory definition of lewd exhibition.
Penalties for Teen Sexting
Louisiana's teen sexting statute draws a clear line between two types of conduct, and the penalties differ significantly.
Sending Your Own Images (Subsection A-1)
When a minor under 17 sends an indecent image of themselves, the case is handled through the Families in Need of Services (FINS) process under Title VII of the Louisiana Children's Code. FINS is a non-criminal, child-protective framework. It does not result in a delinquency adjudication or criminal record.
Under FINS, the court may order:
- Counseling or educational programs
- Family-based interventions
- Supervision by the Department of Children and Family Services
This approach reflects the legislature's recognition that a teenager who shares a self-produced image needs guidance, not a criminal conviction.
Possessing or Sharing Another Minor's Images (Subsection A-2)
When a minor under 17 possesses or distributes explicit images of another minor, the offense enters the delinquency system with escalating penalties.
| Offense | Fine | Detention | Community Service Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Offense | $100 to $250 | Up to 10 days | 2 days (16 hours) |
| Second Offense | $250 to $500 | 10 to 30 days | 5 days (40 hours) |
| Third or Subsequent | $500 to $750 | 30 days to 6 months | 10 days (80 hours) |
Mandatory Community Service: The law states that the sentence cannot be suspended unless the offender is placed on probation with the specific condition of performing court-approved community service. A teen cannot simply pay a fine and walk away.
No Sex Offender Registration: A conviction under the teen sexting statute (§ 14:81.1.1) does not trigger sex offender registration requirements. This is one of the primary benefits of being charged under this statute rather than the felony child sexual abuse materials law.
The 17-Year-Old Problem: Adult Prosecution After the Raise the Age Rollback
This is the single most important thing for Louisiana families to understand about sexting law.
Louisiana reversed its "Raise the Age" protections in 2024. Governor Jeff Landry signed Senate Bill 3 on March 6, 2024 as Act No. 13, and it took effect on April 19, 2024. The law moved all 17-year-olds back into the adult criminal justice system, reversing protections that had been in place since 2017 under former Governor John Bel Edwards.
The teen sexting statute (§ 14:81.1.1) only applies to persons under 17. A 17-year-old who engages in the same conduct is handled in the adult system, and which charge applies, if any, then turns on the age of the person shown in the image.
This creates dangerous scenarios for high school students:
- A 17-year-old who sends a nude photo to a 14-year-old is an adult transmitting obscene material to a minor, satisfying the more-than-two-year age gap that Indecent Behavior with Juveniles requires. Depending on the circumstances, charges could include Indecent Behavior with Juveniles (La. R.S. § 14:81).
- A 17-year-old who receives a nude photo from a 16-year-old is an adult in possession of child sexual abuse materials. This is a felony carrying 5 to 20 years at hard labor.
- Two 17-year-olds sharing images of themselves with each other fall into a statutory gap. Neither qualifies for the teen sexting statute, which stops at 17. But the child sexual abuse materials statute keys on the age of the person depicted, and it reaches only a sexual performance involving a child under 17, so an image of a 17-year-old sits outside it. Sharing such an image without the other person's consent can still be charged as nonconsensual disclosure of a private image under La. R.S. § 14:283.2.
A birthday can transform a consensual exchange between high school classmates into a felony for the older partner. High school seniors dating juniors or sophomores face particularly high risk.
The March 2025 Amendment 3 Vote
In March 2025, Louisiana voters rejected Amendment 3 by a margin of 66% to 34%. That measure would have allowed the legislature to expand the number of offenses for which minors as young as 14 could be sentenced as adults. While the amendment did not pass, the existing Raise the Age rollback for 17-year-olds remains in effect.
Child Sexual Abuse Materials (La. R.S. § 14:81.1)
When the teen sexting statute does not apply (because the offender is 17 or older, or the conduct is more severe), prosecutors turn to the state's main statute: La. R.S. § 14:81.1. Effective August 1, 2025, this offense was renamed from "Pornography involving juveniles" to "Child sexual abuse materials" (CSAM).
One limit on this statute is easy to miss and it matters a great deal. The statute defines child sexual abuse materials as a reproduction of "any sexual performance involving a child under the age of seventeen." That threshold is about the age of the person depicted in the image, not the age of the person holding or sending it. An image of a 17-year-old is not child sexual abuse materials under Louisiana law, no matter who possesses it.
This felony statute applies to:
- Production (taking or creating the photo or video)
- Distribution (sharing, transmitting, or providing it to others)
- Possession (having it on a device or in storage)
Penalty Table for CSAM Offenses
| Offense Type | First Conviction | Second or Subsequent Conviction |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | Fine up to $50,000; 5 to 20 years hard labor | Fine up to $75,000; 10 to 40 years hard labor |
| Distribution | Fine up to $50,000; 5 to 20 years hard labor | Fine up to $75,000; 10 to 40 years hard labor |
| Production | Fine up to $50,000; 10 to 20 years hard labor | Fine up to $75,000; 20 to 40 years hard labor |
All CSAM convictions are served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Enhanced Penalties for Young Victims
When the victim is under 13 years old and the offender is 17 or older, penalties increase, but the size of the increase depends on the underlying offense. For possession and distribution (Paragraphs 1 through 3), the term of imprisonment increases to not less than one-half the longest term nor more than twice the longest term otherwise provided for those offenses, served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. For production, promotion, or advertisement (Paragraph 4), the penalty increases specifically to 25 to 99 years at hard labor, with at least 25 years served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, making it among the harshest penalties in the country for this offense.
Revenge Porn: Nonconsensual Disclosure of a Private Image (La. R.S. § 14:283.2)
Sharing intimate images without consent is a felony in Louisiana. La. R.S. § 14:283.2 prohibits the "Nonconsensual disclosure of a private image."
You commit this offense if you intentionally disclose an image of another person, regardless of the depicted person's age, when:
- The person in the image is identifiable.
- You know or should have known the person did not consent to the disclosure.
- The image was obtained under circumstances where a reasonable person would understand it was meant to remain private.
- You knew or should have known that the disclosure could harass or cause emotional distress to the person in the image.
That last element is a "knew or should have known" standard, not a requirement that you set out to hurt anyone. A person who shares an image carelessly, without any intent to cause harm, can still satisfy it.
Penalties for Revenge Porn
Violation is a felony punishable by:
- Fine of up to $10,000
- Imprisonment with or without hard labor for up to 2 years
This law applies regardless of whether the person originally sent the image voluntarily. Consent to receive an image is not consent to share it.
Exceptions
The statute provides exceptions for:
- Disclosures by criminal justice agencies during lawful investigations
- Reporting unlawful conduct to law enforcement
- Images where the person voluntarily exposed intimate parts in a public setting
- Images related to matters of public interest involving public figures
Federal Law: The TAKE IT DOWN Act
Federal law also reaches this conduct. The TAKE IT DOWN Act (Public Law 119-12, signed May 19, 2025) added 47 U.S.C. § 223(h), making it a federal crime to publish an intimate image of an identifiable person without consent, whether the image is authentic or an AI-generated digital forgery. Publishing an authentic image carries up to 2 years in prison, or 3 years if the victim is a minor. Threatening to publish a digital forgery carries a lower penalty, up to 18 months, or 30 months if the victim is a minor, but threatening to publish an authentic image is punished the same as actually publishing it. Covered platforms must also remove a reported image within 48 hours of a valid request, a duty that became enforceable in 2026. Separately, 15 U.S.C. § 6851 (enacted 2022) lets victims sue for either the actual damages they sustained or liquidated damages in the fixed amount of $150,000, along with the cost of the action and reasonable attorney fees; whether it reaches AI-generated forgeries remains legally unsettled.
Video Voyeurism (La. R.S. § 14:283)
Related to revenge porn, La. R.S. § 14:283 prohibits using a camera to secretly record someone in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy (such as a bathroom, bedroom, or locker room) or to look under clothing ("upskirting") without consent.
The statute also prohibits sharing such recordings.
Penalties for Video Voyeurism
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First conviction | Fine up to $2,000; up to 2 years imprisonment |
| Second or subsequent conviction | Fine up to $2,000; 6 months to 3 years hard labor (no parole, probation, or suspension) |
| Victim under 17 (with intent to arouse) | Fine up to $10,000; 2 to 10 years hard labor (no parole, probation, or suspension) |
Conviction for video voyeurism requires sex offender registration.
Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor (La. R.S. § 14:81.3)
Adults who use the internet to contact minors for sexual purposes face charges under La. R.S. § 14:81.3, "Computer-aided solicitation of a minor." This statute frequently applies when an adult (17 or older) begins sexting with a minor and suggests meeting in person.
The law requires the offender to be at least 17 years old and the victim (or believed victim) to be under 17, with an age difference greater than two years.
Penalties
- Victim is 13 to 16 years old (actual victim): Fine up to $10,000; 5 to 10 years at hard labor, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
- Victim is under 13 years old (actual victim): Fine up to $10,000; 10 to 20 years at hard labor, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
- Victim is a person reasonably believed to be under 17 (sting/undercover scenario): Fine up to $10,000; 2 to 10 years imprisonment with or without hard labor.
- Results in actual sexual conduct and a 5+ year age gap: Fine up to $10,000; 7 to 10 years imprisonment.
- Subsequent conviction: 10 to 20 years at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Conviction requires mandatory sex offender registration. The court may also restrict or ban the offender's internet access.
Legal Defenses
Defending against sexting charges depends on the specific statute and circumstances involved.
Lack of Intent or Knowledge
The teen sexting statute requires the act to be "knowing and voluntary." If a student's phone was hacked, if they were coerced into sending the image, or if they did not know the content of the image, this may serve as a defense.
Unsolicited Images
Simply receiving an image you did not request is not always enough for a conviction, provided you do not save, share, or solicit it. However, the Louisiana teen statute explicitly prohibits "possession" of an image sent by another minor. Deleting the image promptly is the safest course of action.
Age Mistakes Are Not a Defense for Adults
For adults (17+) charged with crimes involving minors, a reasonable mistake about the victim's age is generally not a valid defense in Louisiana for sexual offenses involving victims under 17. The law places the burden on the adult to verify age.
What to Do If You or Your Child Is Charged
If you or your child faces an investigation or charges related to sexting, take these steps.
Contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. Sexting charges can carry lifelong consequences, including felony records and sex offender registration. The Louisiana State Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service.
Do not delete evidence after police contact you. While possessing the images is illegal, destroying evidence after law enforcement makes contact can result in additional charges for obstruction of justice. Let your attorney handle the evidence.
Exercise your right to remain silent. Do not explain the situation to police, school administrators, or the parents of the other child without a lawyer present. Statements like "I only sent it to one person" can be used to prove guilt.
Understand the timeline. The statute of limitations for most of these offenses is several years. Being contacted by police does not mean charges are imminent, but it does mean you should prepare a defense.
More Louisiana Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sexting a felony in Louisiana?
It depends on the ages involved. For minors under 17 sharing images with other minors, sexting is a misdemeanor under La. R.S. § 14:81.1.1. Sending your own self-produced image is handled through the non-criminal FINS (Families in Need of Services) process. For anyone 17 or older who shares or possesses an explicit image of a person under 17, sexting can be a serious felony carrying 5 to 20 years or more in prison, because the child sexual abuse materials statute turns on the age of the person depicted.
Does Louisiana have a Romeo and Juliet exception for sexting?
Louisiana does not have a specific Romeo and Juliet exception within the sexting statute that dismisses charges for close-in-age couples. However, the existence of the teen sexting law (§ 14:81.1.1) acts as a form of protection by reducing the offense from a felony to a misdemeanor for minors under 17. The computer-aided solicitation statute (§ 14:81.3) does include a two-year age gap requirement before charges apply.
Will my child have to register as a sex offender for sexting?
If your child is charged under the teen sexting statute (§ 14:81.1.1), no. That statute does not require sex offender registration. However, if your child is 17 or older and charged under the child sexual abuse materials statute (§ 14:81.1) or computer-aided solicitation (§ 14:81.3), sex offender registration may be mandatory upon conviction.
What happens if two 17-year-olds sext each other in Louisiana?
Neither of the two sexting statutes fits, which leaves a genuine gap. Since the 2024 rollback of the Raise the Age law, 17-year-olds are processed as adults in Louisiana, and the teen sexting misdemeanor statute (§ 14:81.1.1) covers only minors under 17. But § 14:81.1 defines child sexual abuse materials as a reproduction of a sexual performance involving a child under the age of seventeen, so it turns on the age of the person shown in the image rather than the age of the sender. An image of a 17-year-old falls outside it. Two 17-year-olds exchanging images of themselves therefore are not committing a child sexual abuse materials offense. Sharing such an image without the other person's consent can still be charged as nonconsensual disclosure of a private image under § 14:283.2, and other conduct-specific offenses could apply depending on the facts.
Can schools discipline students for sexting in Louisiana?
Yes. If the conduct occurs on school property, uses school Wi-Fi or devices, or causes a substantial disruption to the school environment, schools can suspend or expel students. School discipline is separate from any criminal charges and can proceed regardless of the outcome of a criminal case.
Updates
Corrected this page's treatment of two 17-year-olds sharing images of themselves, which Louisiana's child sexual abuse materials statute does not reach because it turns on the age of the person depicted rather than the age of the sender, and fixed the definition of sexually explicit conduct in the teen sexting statute, the intent standard for the revenge porn offense, the Senate Bill 3 signing date, and the federal liquidated damages figure.
Fixed a dead citation link for Louisiana's revenge porn statute and corrected an inaccurate claim that it only applies to images of people 17 or older (it applies regardless of the depicted person's age); added a new section on the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act and the 15 U.S.C. 6851 civil remedy for nonconsensual intimate images.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected the 14:81 age-gap example (a 17-to-16 example did not meet the statute's own two-year gap element), narrowed the 25-to-99-year under-13 enhancement to the production/promotion tier it actually applies to, and replaced the computer-aided-solicitation penalty list with the actual-victim baseline (5 to 10 years mandatory hard labor) instead of the sting-scenario figure it had been mislabeled as.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Louisiana Revised Statutes
§ 14:81.1.1"Sexting"; prohibited acts; penaltiesIn force
A.(1) No person under the age of seventeen years shall knowingly and voluntarily use a computer or telecommunication device to transmit an indecent visual depiction of himself to another person. (2) No person under the age of seventeen years shall knowingly possess or transmit an indecent visual depiction that was transmitted by another under the age of seventeen years in violation of the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. B. For purposes of this Section: (1) "Indecent visual depiction" means any photograph, videotape, film, or other reproduction of a person under the age of seventeen years engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and includes data stored on any computer, telecommunication device, or other electronic storage media which is capable of conversion into a visual image. (2) "Sexually explicit conduct" means masturbation or lewd exhibition of the genitals, pubic hair, anus, vulva, or female breast nipples of a person under the age of seventeen years.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
§ 14:81.1Child sexual abuse materialsIn forcecited in 5 of our articles
A.(1) It shall be unlawful for a person to produce, promote, advertise, distribute, possess, or possess with the intent to distribute child sexual abuse materials. (2) It shall also be a violation of the provision of this Section for a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child to consent to the participation of the child in child sexual abuse materials. B. For purposes of this Section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) "Access software provider" means a provider of software, including client or server software, or enabling tools that do any one or more of the following: (a) Filter, screen, allow, or disallow content. (b) Select, choose, analyze, or digest content. (c) Transmit, receive, display, forward, cache, search, organize, reorganize, or translate content. (2) "Cable operator" means any person or group of persons who provides cable service over a cable system and directly, or through one or more affiliates, owns a significant interest in such cable system, or who otherwise controls or is responsible for, through any arrangement, the management and operation of such a cable system.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 128 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Steines (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2017, 245 So. 3d 224)“…e count of pornography involving juveniles, in violation of La. R.S. 14:81.1, and two counts of aggravated incest, i…”
- State v. Fussell (Supreme Court of Louisiana 2008, 974 So. 2d 1223)“…peal regarding the proper interpretation and application of La. R.S. 14:81.1(A)(3), [1] relating to the intentional…”
- State v. Roberts (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2001, 796 So. 2d 779)“…mation with pornography involving juveniles, a violation of La.R.S. 14:81.1. The trial judge convicted him of the c…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Louisiana Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026), Louisiana Pornography Laws (2026): Legal Status & Age Verification
§ 14:81Indecent behavior with juvenilesIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
A. Indecent behavior with juveniles is the commission of any of the following acts with the intention of arousing or gratifying the sexual desires of either person: (1) Any lewd or lascivious act upon the person or in the presence of any child under the age of seventeen, where there is an age difference of greater than two years between the two persons. Lack of knowledge of the child's age shall not be a defense. (2) The transmission, delivery or utterance of any textual, visual, written, or oral communication depicting lewd or lascivious conduct, text, words, or images to any person reasonably believed to be under the age of seventeen and reasonably believed to be at least two years younger than the offender. It shall not be a defense that the person who actually receives the transmission is not under the age of seventeen. (3) The grooming of a child under the age of seventeen, where the offender is at least four years older than the child. Completion or attempt to complete such act is not necessary to constitute grooming. Lack of knowledge of the child's age shall not be a defense. B.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 446 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Parker (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2007, 963 So. 2d 497)“…ounts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, in violation of La. R.S. 14:81. He was sentenced on each *501 count…”
- State v. Holstead (Supreme Court of Louisiana 1977, 354 So. 2d 493)“…counts of indecent behavior with juveniles in violation of La.R.S. 14:81. After trial before a judge, defendant…”
- State v. Fussell (Supreme Court of Louisiana 2008, 974 So. 2d 1223)“…e First Circuit looked to the use of the plural form within La. R.S. 14:81(A)(3) (prohibiting "[t]he intentional p…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 14:81.3Computer-aided solicitation of a minorIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
A.(1) Computer-aided solicitation of a minor is committed when a person seventeen years of age or older knowingly contacts or communicates, through the use of electronic textual communication, with a person who has not yet attained the age of seventeen where there is an age difference of greater than two years, or a person reasonably believed to have not yet attained the age of seventeen and reasonably believed to be at least two years younger, for the purpose of or with the intent to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce the person to engage or participate in sexual conduct or a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B), or with the intent to engage or participate in sexual conduct in the presence of the person who has not yet attained the age of seventeen, or person reasonably believed to have not yet attained the age of seventeen.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 26 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Hatton (Supreme Court of Louisiana 2008, 985 So. 2d 709)“…court granted defendant's Motion to Quash on the basis that La. R.S. 14:81.3(C)(3) violates La. Const. art. I, § 22,…”
- State v. Green (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2015, 164 So. 3d 331)“…the computer-aided solicitation of a minor, in violation of La. R.S. 14:81.3. He was sentenced to serve 10 years’ im…”
- State v. Prine (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2009, 13 So. 3d 758)“…a minor that occurred on February 19, 2007, in violation of La. R.S. 14:81.3 and in *760 a separate b…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 14:283.2Nonconsensual disclosure of a private imageIn forcecited in 9 of our articles
A. A person commits the offense of nonconsensual disclosure of a private image when all of the following occur: (1) The person intentionally discloses an image of another person who is identifiable from the image or information displayed in connection with the image and either whose intimate parts are exposed in whole or in part or who is engaged in sexual conduct. (2) The person who discloses the image obtained it through unauthorized access or under circumstances in which a reasonable person would know or understand that the image was to remain private. (3) The person who discloses the image knew or should have known that the person in the image did not consent to the disclosure of the image. (4) The person who discloses the image knew or should have known that the disclosure could harass or cause emotional distress to the person in the image. B. Disclosure of an image under any of the following circumstances does not constitute commission of the offense defined in Subsection A of this Section: (1) When the disclosure is made by any criminal justice agency for the purpose of a criminal investigation that is otherwise lawful.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 2 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2017
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Goodie (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2017, 17 La.App. 3 Cir. 693)“…arges for nonconsensual disclosure of a private image under La.R.S. 14:283.2. The narrative portion of the police…”
- State of Louisiana v. Travis R. Goodie (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2017)“…rges for nonconsensual disclosure of a private image under La.R.S. 14:283.2. The narrative portion of the po…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Louisiana Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Louisiana Video Recording Laws: Surveillance Rules and Privacy Limits, Louisiana Voyeurism and Hidden Camera Laws: Offenses, Penalties, and Protections
§ 14:283Video voyeurism; penaltiesIn forcecited in 30 of our articles
A. Video voyeurism is any of the following: (1) The use of any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric, or any other image recording device, or an unmanned aircraft system equipped with any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric, or any other image recording device, for the purpose of observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping a person where that person has not consented to the specific instance of observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping and either: (a) It is for a lewd or lascivious purpose. (b) The observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping is as described in Paragraph (B)(3) of this Section and occurs in a place where an identifiable person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. (2) The transfer of an image obtained by activity described in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection by live or recorded telephone message, electronic mail, the Internet, or a commercial online service.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 16 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2024
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):In State v. Schaller (2009) a Louisiana appeals court set out the elements of La. R.S. 14:283 and, since the statute does not define lewd or lascivious, applied a definition of an act tending to excite lust, rejecting a claimed babysitting reason for a hidden bedroom camera. State v. Boudreaux (2006) found 56 consecutive years excessive.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Batiste (Supreme Court of Louisiana 2006, 939 So. 2d 1245)“…Batiste, charging him with video voyeurism, a violation of La. R.S. 14:283. [1] At his arraignment on December *…”
- State v. Boudreaux (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2006, 945 So. 2d 898)✓A stepfather hid a wireless camera in his 18-year-old stepdaughter's bedroom and taped her for four months. He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of video voyeurism, and the court vacated the 56-year consecutive sentence as excessive because the acts formed a single scheme.
- State v. Perry (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2012, 12 La.App. 3 Cir. 298)✓A houseguest was secretly videotaped drying off in the family's guest bathroom. The court affirmed the video voyeurism conviction and three-year sentence, addressing only whether the untimely pretrial motions were properly denied, not the reach of the statute.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Louisiana Smart Glasses Recording Laws (2026), Louisiana Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties, Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Rights and Restrictions
United States Code Title 47
§ 223Obscene or harassing telephone calls in the District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communicationsIn forcecited in 13 of our articles
Whoever— in interstate or foreign communications— by means of a telecommunications device knowingly— makes, creates, or solicits, and initiates the transmission of, any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication which is obscene or child pornography, with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass another person; by means of a telecommunications device knowingly— makes, creates, or solicits, and initiates the transmission of, any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication which is obscene or child pornography, knowing that the recipient of the communication is under 18 years of age, regardless of whether the maker of such communication placed the call or initiated the communication; makes a telephone call or utilizes a telecommunications device, whether or not conversation or communication ensues, without disclosing his identity and with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass any specific person; makes or causes the telephone of another repeatedly or continuously to ring, with intent to harass any person at the called number; or makes repeated telephone calls or repeatedly initiates communication with a telecommunications device,…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 208 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Sable Communications v. FCC (1989) upheld the 47 U.S.C. 223(b) ban on obscene commercial phone messages but struck its indecency ban as not narrowly tailored. Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union (1997) held the CDA's 223(a) indecency and 223(d) display provisions violate the First Amendment, severing only the words "or indecent".
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union (Supreme Court of the United States 1997, 521 U.S. 844)✓Online speakers challenged the Communications Decency Act's bans on indecent transmissions to minors and patently offensive displays. The Court held 47 U.S.C. 223(a) and 223(d) facially violate the First Amendment, severing only the words "or indecent" from section 223(a).
- United States v. Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc. (Supreme Court of the United States 2000, 529 U.S. 803)“…suant to § 561 of the Act, 110 Stat. 142 , note following 47 U. S. C. § 223 (1994 ed., Supp. III). Playboy sought…”
- Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation (Supreme Court of the United States 1978, 438 U.S. 726)“…ous, filthy, or indecent" telephone calls, 82 Stat. 112 , 47 U. S. C. § 223 , the FCC itself indicated that it thou…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: What Is the Take It Down Act? The 2025 Federal NCII Law Explained, How to File a Take It Down Request (Step by Step), South Carolina Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
United States Code Title 15
§ 6851Civil action relating to disclosure of intimate imagesIn forcecited in 24 of our articles
In this section: The term “commercial pornographic content” means any material that is subject to the record keeping requirements under section 2257 of title 18. The term “consent” means an affirmative, conscious, and voluntary authorization made by the individual free from force, fraud, misrepresentation, or coercion. The term “depicted individual” means an individual whose body appears in whole or in part in an intimate visual depiction and who is identifiable by virtue of the person’s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic, such as a unique birthmark or other recognizable feature, or from information displayed in connection with the visual depiction. The term “disclose” means to transfer, publish, distribute, or make accessible.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 49 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):District courts have begun applying the 15 U.S.C. 6851 private action for nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images. Goodnight v. Hammons (2025) read its unwelcome conduct and public concern exceptions narrowly and let the claim proceed. Parkes v. Walker II (2025) dismissed a claim that did not plead interstate commerce.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- TILLE v. KAPLAN (District Court, D. New Jersey 2025)“…iolence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 (“VAWA”), 15 U.S.C. § 6851. Compl., D.E. 1, at 7-8. The allegati…”
- Turner v. Echols (District Court, W.D. Virginia 2025)✓A pretrial detainee sued an FBI agent under 15 U.S.C. 6851 over intimate images found in a warrantless phone search; the court dismissed, finding he never alleged he was depicted, never plausibly alleged disclosure, and that the law enforcement exception applied.
- Goodnight v. Hammons (District Court, W.D. Oklahoma 2025)✓A wife allegedly accessed her husband's devices, took his girlfriend's nude photos and sent them to a coworker; the court let the 15 U.S.C. 6851 claim proceed, rejecting the statute's unwelcome-conduct and public-concern exceptions as covering discovered infidelity.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: How to File a DMCA Takedown on Xvideos (2026 Guide), Revenge Porn Laws by State: All 50 States and DC (2026), Mississippi Data Privacy Laws: Breach Notification & Consumer Rights (2026)
Explore the law
The laws cited above reference these related sections in their own text:
- Louisiana Revised Statutes § 14:2 — Definitions view in our statute record · read at the official source
- Louisiana Revised Statutes § 15:541 — Definitions view in our statute record · read at the official source
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
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Sources and References
- La. R.S. § 14:81.1.1 - Sexting; prohibited acts; penalties (Louisiana State Legislature)(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. § 14:81.1 - Child sexual abuse materials (Louisiana State Legislature)(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. § 14:283.2 - Nonconsensual disclosure of a private image (Louisiana State Legislature)(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. § 14:283 - Video voyeurism; penalties (Louisiana State Legislature)(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. § 14:81.3 - Computer-aided solicitation of a minor (Louisiana State Legislature)(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. § 14:81 - Indecent behavior with juveniles (Louisiana State Legislature)(legis.la.gov).gov
- Louisiana State Bar Association - Lawyer Referral Service(lsba.org)
- La. R.S. § 14:81.1.1 - 2025 Louisiana Laws (Justia)(law.justia.com)
- Public Law 119-12 - TAKE IT DOWN Act (Congress.gov)(congress.gov).gov
- 47 U.S.C. § 223 - Obscene or harassing telephone calls (includes TAKE IT DOWN Act provisions) (Cornell LII)(law.cornell.edu)
- Senate Bill 3, 2024 Second Extraordinary Session - Act No. 13, signed March 6, 2024, effective April 19, 2024 (Louisiana State Legislature)(legis.la.gov)
- 15 U.S.C. § 6851 - Civil action relating to disclosure of intimate images (Office of the Law Revision Counsel)(uscode.house.gov)