Peter A Allard School of Law

Benjamin Perrin

Professor

Profile

Ben Perrin researches and teaches in the areas of criminal law and international law. He joined UBC in 2007 after serving as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada and advising judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Special Court for Sierra Leone. Ben was lead criminal justice advisor and in-house legal counsel to the Prime Minister of Canada.

In recent years, Ben was confronted with childhood and intergenerational trauma, addiction, mental health challenges, and disability in the lives of people close to him and his own. In this journey, he found freedom and peace in Jesus Christ. He is an advocate for compassionate, evidence-based approaches to pressing criminal justice and societal issues.

Ben is the author of policy papers, journal articles, and several books including Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial (UTP, forthcoming October 2023), Overdose: Heartbreak and Hope in Canada’s Opioid Crisis (Penguin Random House, 2020), Victim Law: The Law of Victims of Crime in Canada (Thomson Carswell, 2017) and Criminal Law: Canadian Law, Indigenous Laws & Critical Perspectives (CanLII, 2023) – a free open-access textbook for law students. 

You can visit his website at www.benjaminperrin.ca.

Courses

  • Criminal Law & Procedure
  • Indigenous Settler Legal Relations

Publications

Benjamin Perrin
Overdose: Heartbreak and Hope in Canada's Opioid Crisis
Toronto: Penguin Random House, 2020
Benjamin Perrin
“Social Media Threats: Examining the Canadian Criminal Law Response”
(2018) 16 C.J.L.T. 75-106
Benjamin Perrin
Victim Law: The Law of Victims of Crime in Canada
Toronto: Thomson Reuters, 2017

UBC Library Location
Benjamin Perrin, Richard Audas, and Sarah Péloquin-Ladany
The Case for a Justice System Report Card
Ottawa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute, 2016

Online Access (with full-text)
Benjamin Perrin
Dissent from Within at the Supreme Court of Canada 2015 Year in Review
Ottawa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy, 2014

Online Access (with full-text)
Benjamin Perrin
The Supreme Court vs. Parliament: Supreme Court of Canada 2016 Year in Review
Ottawa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute, 2016

Online Access (with full-text)
Benjamin Perrin
“Out of the Shadows: A Comparative Assessment of the Role of Victims at the International Criminal Court and in Canada
Full text: (2015) 93:2 Can. Bar Rev.459-500

UBC Library Location
Benjamin Perrin
Punishing the Most Heinous Crimes: Analysis and Recommendations Related to Bill C-53 (Life Means Life Act)
Ottawa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute, 2015

Online Access (with full-text)
Benjamin Perrin
“Victim Participation at the International Criminal Court: Examining the First Decade of Investigative and Pre-Trial Proceedings ”
Full text: (2015)15: 2 Int'l Crim. L. Rev. 298-338
Benjamin Perrin
How to Make Canada's New Prostitution Laws Work
Ottawa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute, 2014

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
More Than Words: Enhancing the Proposed Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (Bill C-32)
Ottawa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy, 2014

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
Oldest Profession or Oldest Oppression?: Addressing Prostitution after the Supreme Court of Canada Decision in Canada v. Bedford
Ottawa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute, 2014

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
“The Supreme Court of Canada: Policy Maker of the Year”
Full text: (December 2014) Inside Policy 7-11
Benjamin Perrin
The Supreme Court of Canada: Policy-Maker of the Year
Ottawa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute, 2014

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
“Migrant Smuggling: Canada's Response to a Global Criminal Enterprise”
Full text: (2013) 1:2 Int'l J. Soc. Sci Stud. 139-153
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin,
“Conclusion”
in Benjamin Perrin, ed., Modern Warfare: Armed Groups, Private Militaries, Humanitarian Organizations, and the Law
Vancouver: UBC Press, 2012
pp. 362-366

UBC Library Location
Online Access (with full-text)
John Winterdyk, Benjamin Perrin & Philip Reichel
Human Trafficking: Exploring the International Nature, Concerns, and Complexities
Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2012

UBC Library Location
SSRN Abstract
Benjamin Perrin,
“Introduction”
in Benjamin Perrin, ed., Modern Warfare: Armed Groups, Private Militaries, Humanitarian Organizations, and the Law
Vancouver: UBC Press, 2012
pp. 1-13

UBC Library Location
Online Access (with full-text)
Benjamin Perrin
“Mind the Gap: Lacunae in the International Legal Framework Governing Private Military and Security Companies”
Full text: (2012) 31:3 Crim. Justice Ethics 213-232
SSRN Abstract
Benjamin Perrin, ed.
Modern Warfare: Armed Groups, Private Militaries, Humanitarian Organizations, and the Law
Vancouver: UBC Press, 2012

UBC Library Location
Online Access (with full-text)
SSRN Abstract
Benjamin Perrin,
“Introduction”
in Benjamin Perrin, ed., Modern Warfare: Armed Groups, Private Militaries, Humanitarian Organizations, and the Law
Vancouver: UBC Press, 2012
pp. 123-156

UBC Library Location
Online Access (with full-text)
Benjamin Perrin
Written Submission on the Safe Streets and Communities Act (Bill C-10 - The Safe Streets and Communities Act)
Brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (October 13, 2011)
Benjamin Perrin
“Impacting Public Policy”
in Alan Broadbent & Ratna Omidvar, eds, Five Good Ideas: Practical Strategies for Non-Profit Success
Toronto: Coach House, 2011
pp. 218-223
Benjamin Perrin
Invisible Chains: Canada's Underground World of Human Trafficking (paperback version with new Epilogue)
Toronto: Penguin Group, 2011

Featured in End of Modern Day Slavery website: http://www.endmoderndayslavery.ca/
Benjamin Perrin
Migrant Smuggling: Canada's Response to a Global Criminal Enterprise: With an Assessment of the Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act (Bill C-4)
Ottawa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute, 2011

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
“Just Passing Through? International Legal Obligations and Policies of Transit Countries in Combating Trafficking in Persons”
Full text: (2011) 14 Trends in Organized Crime 235-264
Benjamin Perrin, "Humanitarian Assistance and the Private Security Debate: An International Humanitarian Law Perspective" in On the Edges of Conflict Policy Papers (Ottawa: Canadian Red Cross, 2008)
pp. 14-22

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
Invisible Chains: Canada's Underground World of Human Trafficking
Toronto: Viking Canada, 2010

UBC Library Location
SSRN Abstract

Featured in End of Modern Day Slavery website: http://www.endmoderndayslavery.ca/
Benjamin Perrin
“Just Passing Through? International Legal Obligations and Policies of Transit Countries in Combating Trafficking in Persons”
Full text: (2010) 7 Eur. J. Criminol. 11-27
SSRN Abstract
Benjamin Perrin
“The Slave Trade is Back: Confronting Human Trafficking in Canada and Beyond”
Full text: (2010) 4:2 C2C: Canada's Journal of Ideas
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
Trafficking in Persons & Transit Countries: A Canada-U.S. Case Study in Global Perspective
[Metropolis B.C. Working Paper 10-05 (April 2010)]
Vancouver: Metropolis B.C., 2010

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
“Bill C-268: Minimum Sentences for Child Trafficking Needed”
Full text: (March 12, 2009) Alta. L. Rev. Online Supplement
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
“Confronting Human Trafficking in Canada”
Full text: (6 February 2009) Lawyers Wkly. 13-14

UBC Library Location
Benjamin Perrin
“Searching for Accountability: The Draft U.N. International Convention on the Regulation, Oversight and Monitoring of Private Military and Security Companies”
Full text: (2009) 47 Can. Y.B. Int'l Law 299-317

UBC Library Location
SSRN Abstract
Benjamin Perrin
“Taking a Vacation from the Law? Extraterritorial Criminal Jurisdiction and Section 7(4.1) of the Criminal Code
Full text: (2009) 13:2 Can. Crim. L. Rev. 175-209

UBC Library Location
SSRN Abstract
Benjamin Perrin
“Apprehension of Indicted War Criminals: Lessons from the Former Yugoslavia”
in Roberta Arnold, ed., Law Enforcement in Peace Support Operations
Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff, 2008
pp. 139-155

UBC Library Location
SSRN Abstract
Benjamin Perrin
“Discussion Paper: Sexual Exploitation of Children & Adolescents (Canada)”
in Canada-U.S. Consultation in Preparation for the World Congress III Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents
Washington, D.C.: October 2-3, 2008
Benjamin Perrin
“Guns for Hire - With Canadian Taxpayer Dollars”
Full text: (2008) 6:3 Human Security Bulletin 5-7
Benjamin Perrin
“Our Child Sex Offender Laws Should Cross Borders”
Full text: (11 April 2008) 27:46 Lawyers Wkly. 15

UBC Library Location
Benjamin Perrin
“Searching for Law While Seeking Justice: The Difficulties of Enforcing International Humanitarian Law in International Criminal Trials”
Full text: (2008) 39:2 Ottawa L. Rev. 367-403

UBC Library Location
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
An Emerging International Criminal Law Tradition: Gaps in Applicable Law and Transnational Common Laws
Montreal: Institute of Comparative Law, McGill Faculty of Law, 2007

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
“Ensuring Effective Implementation of Measures to Protect Victims and Creation of a Canadian Counter-Human Trafficking Office”, Brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women
Calgary: The Future Group, 2007
Benjamin Perrin
Faster, Higher, Stronger: Preventing Human Trafficking at the 2010 Olympics
Calgary: The Future Group, 2007

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Sujit Choudhry & Benjamin Perrin
“The Legal Architecture of Intergovernmental Transfers: A Comparative Examination”
in Robin Boadway & Anwar Shah, eds., Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers: Principles and Practice
Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2007
pp. 259-291

UBC Library Location
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
“Phnom Penh: A World Capital for Human Trafficking”
in humansecurity-cities.org, Human Security for an Urban Century: Local Challenges, Global Perspectives
humansecurity-cities.org, 2007
pp. 52-53

Online Access (with full-text)
Benjamin Perrin
“The Threat and Opportunity of Non-State Actors to Conservative Foreign Policy”
Full text: (2007) 1:2 C2C: Canada's Journal of Ideas 12
Benjamin Perrin
“Challenges Facing the EU Network of Competition Authorities: Insights from a Comparative Criminal Law Perspective”
(2006) 31:4 Eur. L. Rev. 540-564

UBC Library Location
Benjamin Perrin
“Brief of the Future Group: Ensuring Effective Implementation of Measures to Protect Victims and Creation of a Canadian Counter-Human Trafficking Office” (Brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women, Study on Human Trafficking)
Calgary: The Future Group, 2006

Online Access (with full-text)
Benjamin Perrin
“Falling Short of the Mark: An International Study on the Treatment of Victims of Human Trafficking ”
Calgary: The Future Group, 2006

Online Access (with full-text)
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
“Making Sense of Complementarity: The Relationship Between the International Criminal Court and National Jurisdictions”
Full text: (2006) 18:2 Sri Lanka J. Int'l L. 301-325
Benjamin Perrin
“Promoting Compliance of Private Security and Military Companies with International Humanitarian Law”
Full text: (2006) 863 Int'l Rev. Red Cross 613-636

UBC Library Location
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin E.A. Perrin
“Child Soldiers: Legal and Military Challenges in Confronting a Global Phenomenon”, Book Review of Children at War by P.W. Singer
Full text: (2005) 50 McGill L.J. 687-694

UBC Library Location
Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Benjamin Perrin
“Terrorism, Secession & Multinational Constitutions: The Challenge of Sri Lanka”
Full text: (2004) 16 Sri Lanka J. Int'l L. 175-234

UBC Library Location
Benjamin Perrin, Shuvaloy Majumdar, Nicholas Gafuik & Stephanie Andrews
The Future of Southeast Asia: Challenges of Human Trafficking and Child Sex Slavery in Cambodia
Phnom Penh: Motorola Printers, 2001

Allard Research Commons
SSRN Paper
Ben Perrin

Research Interests

  • Criminal law and criminal justice
  • International law

If we could design a new criminal justice system from scratch, what would it look like?


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