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.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager