More Public Indecency Incidents Reported in NYC
Recent crime statistics reveal an alarming increase in individuals publicly pleasuring and exposing themselves in the streets of New York City. Critics attribute this disturbing trend to lenient laws and a failing mental health system.
According to NYPD data, reports of individuals fondling themselves in public have risen by 51% through June 30, with 378 complaints compared to 251 during the same period in 2023.
In addition, the issuance of criminal summonses to New Yorkers exposing their genitals in public has seen a staggering 396% increase, with 159 tickets written through June 30 citywide, up from 32 in 2023.
Residents, like Greenwich Village’s Brian Maloney, are expressing their dismay at the situation. Maloney shared an incident where a naked man was seen fondling himself outside a diner, and another incident involving a woman parading nude in a subway car.
At a recent community board meeting, residents voiced their frustrations over the lack of police response to complaints about a serial masturbator in the area. Captain Joel Rosenthal explained that due to current laws, offenders are often released shortly after being apprehended.
Carolyn D. Gorman, a mental illness policy analyst, believes that the surge in lewd behavior can be attributed to a combination of lenient penal laws and a deficient mental health system that fails to adequately treat the mentally ill.
Additional reporting by Tina Moore.
