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

Crime Victims' Rights in the Criminal Justice Process
Crime victims have the right to be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect. Learn how state laws seek to protect and assist crime victims throughout the criminal justice process.
Can a Victim Press Charges? How the Process Works
"Press charges" is a phrase everyone knows, but few people understand. Find out who actually files criminal charges, what evidence it takes, and how much say victims really have in the process
Runaway Teenagers: Laws and Legal Options
If a teen runs away from home, state law determines what happens next. Learn about status offenses, harboring laws, legal options, and getting help.
Revenge Porn: Laws & Penalties
Revenge porn—also called nonconsensual distribution of intimate images (NDII)—is the posting or sharing of sexually explicit images without the subject's consent. Federal law and nearly every state now criminalize it.
Sex Trafficking Laws and Penalties
Sex trafficking is a felony under federal law and in all 50 states. Learn how the law defines it, what penalties traffickers face, and how child sex trafficking is treated differently.
Is Deepfake Pornography Illegal?
AI technology has made deepfake pornography frighteningly easy to create. Learn how the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act and state laws criminalize deepfake porn and what victims can do.
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.
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