Rebecca Pirius

Rebecca Pirius

Attorney · Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Rebecca Pirius is a Legal Editor at Nolo with a focus on criminal law. She has worked in the area of criminal law since 2003, most recently as a senior policy specialist at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). For 12 years, Rebecca was a legislative analyst and an attorney in the Minnesota House of Representatives, providing nonpartisan legal research and drafting services to the 134 members. Right out of law school, she clerked for a judge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rebecca earned her J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Minnesota, where she graduated magna cum laude and served as a law review member. She is a member of the Minnesota State Bar.

Nolo. In 2017, Rebecca began freelancing with Nolo and writing articles on criminal law, traffic laws, and impaired driving. She started full time at Nolo in 2019 as a Legal Editor. She writes primarily for CriminalDefenseLawyer.com and Nolo.com.

Prior career. Working at the Minnesota Legislature and NCSL, Rebecca conducted extensive research and analysis of laws and legislation on criminal law, public safety, corrections, and courts. Her roles required her to break down complex legal concepts for a broad audience, including policymakers and constituents, and allowed her to work with both sides of the political aisle. At NCSL, her policy work took her around the country to work with local and state policymakers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, former offenders, young adult offenders, crime victims, and criminal justice experts.  

Articles by Rebecca Pirius

Can Alexa Be Used Against You in a Criminal Case?
Smart home devices don't just make life easier—they generate logs of your movements, habits, and conversations. Learn how law enforcement accesses that data, and what legal rights you actually have
Burglary, Illegal Entry, and Criminal Trespass in Oklahoma
Breaking into a home, vehicle, or building in Oklahoma can lead to serious felony charges. Find out how Oklahoma classifies burglary by degree, what criminal trespass means, and how penalties escalate based on the facts of your case.
Illegal Steroids and HGH: Criminal Charges and Penalties
Illegal steroids and HGH aren't just a professional athlete problem. From gym culture to anti-aging clinics, find out what the criminal penalties are for possession, distribution, and doping scheme violations.
Can You Be Convicted of Rape If You Previously Had Consensual Sex?
Prior sexual history is not consent. This article explains the legal standard, how these cases are prosecuted, and what rape shield laws mean for defendants and victims.
Oklahoma Felony Crimes by Class and Sentences
Facing a felony charge in Oklahoma? The state's new sentencing law took effect in 2026. Find out how the 15 felony classes work, what penalties apply, and what happens if you have prior felony convictions.
North Carolina Criminal Statute of Limitations
Statutes of limitations set time limits for prosecutors to file criminal charges in a case. North Carolina prosecutors can file felony charges at any time, but they must file most misdemeanor charges within two years of the crime.
Tennessee Criminal Statute of Limitations
Learn how long prosecutors in Tennessee have to file criminal charges after a crime is committed.
New Mexico Criminal Statute of Limitations
Statutes of limitations set forth the time period within which New Mexico prosecutors must file criminal charges in a case.
Michigan Criminal Statute of Limitations
Statutes of limitations set time limits for the government to bring criminal charges in a case. In Michigan, the prosecution has six years to file charges in most cases.
Colorado Criminal Statute of Limitations
Colorado law sets time limits—called statutes of limitations—for bringing charges in criminal cases. Violent crimes generally have longer time limits, and some crimes (like murder) have no time limits.
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