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

Is Impersonating an Officer a Felony?
Learn about the penalties for impersonating law enforcement and other public officers.
Auto Theft Laws in Kentucky
Grand theft auto, carjacking, and related offenses carry serious felony penalties in Kentucky.
Auto Theft Laws in Pennsylvania
It's a felony to steal a car in Pennsylvania. Learn about auto theft and related crimes, such as stealing vehicle parts, joyriding, carjacking, and selling to a chop shop.
Prostitution, Pimping, and Pandering
Pimping and pandering laws are designed to curb prostitution—and to protect people who might take part in it—by punishing those who exploit, facilitate, or knowingly benefit from the sex trade.
Sex Trafficking Laws and Penalties
A form of human trafficking, sex trafficking exploits a victim for sex acts by using force, threats, coercion, or fraud.
Auto Theft Laws in Tennessee
Tennessee law prohibits several activities relating to stealing cars or their parts, including theft, joyriding, carjacking, and damage to property.
South Carolina Auto Theft Laws
South Carolina law criminalizes motor vehicle theft, carjacking, joyriding, breaking into a vehicle, and selling parts to chop shops.
Washington Criminal Statute of Limitations
Statutes of limitations set time limits for criminal charges to be brought in a case. In Washington, some crimes—like a capital felony for murder—have no time limit and can be prosecuted at any time.
Auto Theft Laws in Texas
A person convicted of vehicle theft, carjacking, or joyriding can face state jail or prison time. Learn about these and other theft-related crimes and penalties in Texas.
Vehicle and Auto Theft Laws in Arizona
Stealing a vehicle or its parts means felony penalties in Arizona. Learn about the penalties for vehicle theft and related crimes, like carjacking and joyriding.