Pubdate: Sun, 08 Jun 2003 Source: Finger Lakes Times (NY) Copyright: Finger Lakes Times 2003 Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1206 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2074 Author: Kevin DeValk Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) NEW MOM IS THANKFUL FOR DRUG COURT CANANDAIGUA -- As she watched her mother graduate from drug court Friday morning, 3-week-old Zoe Lattierre didn't understand the significance of the day in her mother's life. Her business was simply napping or resting awake in her father's arms, looking cute. Morgan Hudson, though, said she was pleased to be doing better in life so that she could be a good mother to her daughter. Lattierre is the first baby born to an Ontario County drug court participant who successfully cleaned up his or her life from drugs. Hudson, whose past includes heroin and alcohol abuse, graduated from drug court Friday and said she's been drug-free for more than a year. In its three-year history, eight people have graduated from Ontario County's drug court, an alternative to jail time for some non-violent drug offenses, among them Hudson and two others who graduated Friday. Sessions are held at Canandaigua City Hall before city Judge Stephen Aronson. Hudson, a 24-year-old from Clifton Springs, joked that "getting pregnant wasn't part of my treatment plan," and later said she was thankful for the option of going through the program, "so that I can be the best person I can be for my daughter." The new mother is staying at home right now with her first child, but she plans eventually to go back to work and earn a degree from Finger Lakes Community College. Her dream is to open an arts and crafts store. Hudson was admitted into drug court in May 2002, after violating her probation in Victor by stealing to support her drug habit, she said. She underwent treatment with Finger Lakes Addictions and Counseling Referral Agency. Drug court case manager Lucile Mallard said it has been a joy to see Hudson's recovery. Zoe's father, boyfriend Roger Lattierre, stood next to Hudson with the infant in his arms as Hudson received congratulations from her probation officer and others. A smiling Aronson told Morgan and the two other graduating participants that, "As long as we have people like you graduating, we'll (drug court) stay in business." The first graduation ceremony for the county's felony drug treatment court will begin at 10:45 a.m. June 13 in the north courtroom on the second floor of the courthouse. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager