Prison Labor: The Involuntary Servitude of Inmates and Animals

This CLE will explore the overlap between two institutionalized forms of control, the prison system and the animal industry. It will focus on how prison labor is used in factory farm and slaughterhouse settings, as well as to train horses and dogs, and to care for cats. Speakers from the U.S. and Canada will explore the legal, moral, and ethical implications of the intersection of these systems, including the subjection of human inmates to involuntary servitude and potentially brutalizing work, and the subjection of nonhuman animals to inhumane practices.  The program also will explore who benefits from the use of prison labor and the status of efforts at reform.     

Speakers:

Joshua Sbicca, Prison Agriculture Lab

Kelly Struthers Montford, Toronto Metropolitan University

Chloe Taylor, University of Alberta

Michael Briscoe, Colorado State University, Pueblo

Calvin Neufeld

Moderator:

Sarah A. Thompson, Ryther Law Group, LLP

Date:              Thursday October 30, 2025

​Location:        LACBA ZOOM WEBINAR

Time:             12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

CLE Credit:    1.5 Hours General CLE

Price:

Animal Law Section Members                                     $35

LACBA Members                                                         $45

Non-Members                                                              $60

CLE Plus                                                                  No Charge

Non-Profit, Government **                                           $15

Judicial Officers, & Students**                                 No-Charge

Students, Non-Profit, Government & Sitting Judges, must Call Member Services to Register 213-896-6560

Once you have completed your LACBA registration, on the date of the event you will receive a link from Zoom 2 hours before the event that will allow you to join the webinar directly. In order to receive participatory CLE credit, registrants must participate in the webinar via Zoom.  LACBA cannot provide CLE credit to those who only listen to the program audio by phone.  Individuals wishing to receive CLE credit must register independently.

Important Information:
Please log in to Zoom at least 10 minutes before the program time. You will receive a certificate of attendance via email in 7-10 business days.

The LACBA online event registration system supports registration for individual event participants 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For assistance with group/multiple registrations, or if you’d simply prefer to register by phone (with Visa, MasterCard or American Express), please call LACBA’s Member Services Department at (213) 896-6560 any time from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you have questions about programs or program registration, you’re also welcome to contact Member Services by e-mail at: msd@lacba.org. Full refunds issued only for registrations which are cancelled 48 hours in advance.

LACBA Zoom Webinar Link will be emailed to you after registration is closed. You will need to register with Zoom to receive your Link to join the Webinar. 

The LACBA online event registration system supports registration for individual event participants 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For assistance with group/multiple registrations, or if you’d simply prefer to register by phone (with Visa, MasterCard or American Express), please call LACBA’s Member Services Department at (213) 896-6560 any time from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you have questions about programs or program registration, you’re also welcome to contact Member Services by e-mail at: msd@lacba.org.  Full refunds issued only for registrations which are cancelled 48 hours in advance.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association is a State Bar of California MCLE approved provider. If this is a CLE event, the Los Angeles County Bar Association certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit. CLE events will state the amount and type of credit offered in the calendar listing.