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

How to Handle a Bench Warrant or Failure to Appear in Arkansas
Learn what happens if you fail to show up in criminal court when ordered to do so.
Louisiana Statutory Rape Laws
Learn how Louisiana defines and punishes statutory rape offenses and whether Romeo-and-Juliet exceptions exist.
Vermont Statutory Rape Laws
Learn how Vermont punishes statutory rape crimes, what the age of consent is, and whether Romeo-and-Juliet protections apply.
New Jersey Statutory Rape Laws
Statutes governing New Jersey's age of consent, associated criminal charges, available defenses, and penalties for conviction.
Delaware Statutory Rape Laws
Statutes governing Delaware's age of consent, associated criminal charges, available defenses, and penalties for conviction.
Differences Between Theft, Burglary, and Robbery
While often confused and referenced interchangeably, theft, robbery, and burglary share some similarities but are very different crimes. Learn how they differ in terms of acts and penalties.
California Assault and Battery Laws
Learn how assault and battery differ in California, when assault or battery is a felony, and what defenses are available.
New Hampshire Misdemeanor and Felony Theft and Shoplifting Laws
In New Hampshire, a person commits theft when they take someone else’s property without permission. Learn how quickly a theft adds up to a felony.
North Carolina Statutory Rape Laws
Statutes governing North Carolina's age of consent, associated criminal charges, available defenses, and penalties for conviction.
South Dakota Statutory Rape Laws
Statutes governing South Dakota's age of consent, associated criminal charges, available defenses, and penalties for conviction.