Benjamin Perrin
Professor
- Office:
Allard Hall, Room 363
- Phone: 604 822 1208
- Fax: 604 822 8108
- Email: perrin@allard.ubc.ca
Profile
Benjamin Perrin is a Professor of Law at the University of British Columbia. His research and teaching interests include criminal law, constitutional law, international law, and artificial intelligence.
Ben served in the Prime Minister’s Office as in-house legal counsel and lead criminal justice and public safety policy advisor. He was a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada, and advised judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Special Court for Sierra Leone on international humanitarian law and international criminal law.
An Associate of the Law Commission of Canada, Ben is also a member of the advisory councils of the Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime, and the Law Commission of Ontario's advisory committee on AI and criminal justice.
Ben leads the UBC AI & Criminal Justice Initiative and is a member of the UBC Centre for Artificial Intelligence Decision-Making and Action (CAIDA).
A member of the Law Society of British Columbia (non-practising), Ben is the author of policy papers, journal articles, and several books, including:
- Artificial Intelligence & Criminal Justice: Cases and Commentary (CanLII, 2025)
- Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial (UTP, 2023)
- Criminal Law: Canadian Law, Indigenous Laws & Critical Perspectives (CanLII, 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)
Ben enjoys running, swimming and obstacle course racing. He is a follower of Jesus Christ.
You can visit his website at www.benjaminperrin.ca and listen to his award-winning podcast “Indictment.”
Research and Publications
To learn more about my research, please visit my PURE Research profile. You can also access my works on the following sites:
Courses
- Artificial Intelligence & Criminal Justice
- Legal Research Methodology
- Public Law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Publications
| Benjamin Perrin & Masoud Zamani The Future of Warfare: National Positions on the Governance of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (2025) Articles of War (U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Lieber Institute for Law & Warfare). |
| Benjamin Perrin Artificial Intelligence & Criminal Justice: Cases and Commentary Canadian Legal Information Institute, 2024 CanLIIDocs 3035 Online Access (with full-text) |
| Benjamin Perrin Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems & International Law: Growing Momentum Towards a New International Treaty (2025) 29(1) American Society of International Law – Insights 1-8. |
| Benjamin Perrin Artificial Intelligence & Criminal Justice: A Primer Canadian Legal Information Institute, 2024 CanLIIDocs 2727 Online Access (with full-text) |
| Benjamin Perrin Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2023 |
 | 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 |
Research Interests
- Criminal law and criminal justice
- International law
- Law and society
- Law, science and technology
- Legal methodology and interdisciplinary approaches
- Public and constitutional law
How can we design laws that adapt to AI’s rapid evolution while safeguarding fundamental rights and freedoms?