Sandrine Ampleman-Tremblay, LLB, LLM, DCL

Area of Study / Keywords

Criminal Law & Criminal Procedure State Accountability Police Sexual Violence Intoxication Legal Rights

About

Sandrine Ampleman-Tremblay is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, a position she has held since 2023. She completed her LLB at Laval University, her LLM at the University of Toronto and her doctor of civil law degree (DCL) at McGill University.

Ampleman-Tremblay's research focuses mostly on sexual violence, individual and collective responsibility, and legal rights. Her current project entitled "Rethinking Legal Narratives & Criminal Responsibility: A Case Study of Extreme Intoxication" is funded by a SSHRC Insight Grant. The latter investigates criminal responsibility for extreme intoxication and pays specific attention to the tensions that s. 33.1 of the Criminal Code causes between mental health advocates and victims of intoxicated violence. Her work has been published in French and English in the Manitoba Law Journal, the Canadian Journal of Women and the Law, the Ottawa Law Review, and the Dalhousie Law Journal amongst others.

At the Faculty of Law, Ampleman-Tremblay teaches courses on criminal law, wrongful convictions, and legal history. She received the Faculty of Law's Tevie H. Miller Teaching Award in 2025 and the Provost’s Award for Early Achievement of Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2026.

Research

Selected Recent Publications:

Peer-reviewed journals

• “False Accusations of Sexual Assault: Between Myths, Stereotypes, and Evidentiary Foundation” (2026) Manitoba Law Journal (Robson Crim) (forthcoming)
• “Mental Health, Gender-Based Violence, and the New Section 33.1” (2026) 63:4 Alberta Law Review (forthcoming; available on SSRN) 
• “The Viens Inquiry: At the Intersection of State Control, Police Sexual Violence, and Accountability” [2026] (2025) 13:1 Canadian Journal of Human Rights 93 
• “Police Sexual Violence as Psychological Detention: Making Full Use of Charter Rights” (2025) 48:1 Dalhousie Law Journal
• "Media coverage of sexual violence by police in colonial contexts: an explorative study"  (2024) 14:4 Settler Colonial Studies 421
• “L’accompagnement des personnes victimes lors d’entrevues sur les faits au Québec” (2024) 55:2 Ottawa Law Review 211
• “Comprendre l’inconduite sexuelle policière : une perspective canadienne” (2022) 34:1 Canadian Journal of Women and the Law 1
• “Justice Côté: Great Dissenter, Voice of the Court, or Both?” (2021) 44:2 Manitoba Law Journal 1 (with the collaboration of Camille Nadeau) 

Other journals

• “R v Thompson: A Step Forward in the Legal Recognition of Sexual Violence by Police?” (2026) 74:1 Criminal Law Quarterly 9 (available on Westlaw)
• “R v Lufiau, R v Varennes, and The Gamble of Litigating a ‘Right’ to Jury Trials Outside of Section 11(f)” (2024) 33:2 Constitutional Forum 27

Book chapters

• “Developments and Grey Areas in Legal Rights: Detention, Arrest, Trial Within a Reasonable Time and Juries" (ss. 9, 10(a), (b), (c), 11(b) and (f)) ” in Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 6th, ed, Errol Mendes and Stéphane Beaulac, eds. (2025)

LAW 420A - Criminal Law

A general introduction to the criminal law, including basic procedure, evidence, and sentencing rules, with primary emphasis on substantive criminal law. Topics include the physical and fault elements of offences, common law and statutory defences, and constitutional principles.

LAW 420B - Criminal Law

A general introduction to the criminal law, including basic procedure, evidence, and sentencing rules, with primary emphasis on substantive criminal law. Topics include the physical and fault elements of offences, common law and statutory defences, and constitutional principles.

LAW 599 - Seminars on Specialized Legal Topics

These seminars will cover specialized topics of emerging importance in the law at a senior level. The particular topic covered would vary dependent on the availability of Faculty with necessary teaching competence, student interest, and the needs of the legal profession. Sections may be offered at an increased rate of fee assessment; refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations sections of the Calendar.

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