Conference Presenters

Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen
South Dakota Supreme Court

Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen was appointed to the South Dakota Supreme Court and sworn in on Nov. 3, 2017. Chief Justice Jensen was selected by his colleagues on the Court to serve as Chief Justice beginning in January 2021. He was reselected to a second, four-year term as Chief Justice beginning Jan. 6, 2025. Chief Justice Jensen grew up on a farm near Wakonda, S.D. He received his undergraduate degree from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn., in 1985 and his juris doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1988. He clerked for Justice Richard W. Sabers on the South Dakota Supreme Court before entering private practice in 1989 with the Crary Huff Law Firm in Sioux City, Iowa, and Dakota Dunes, S.D. In 2003, Justice Jensen was appointed as a First Judicial Circuit judge and became presiding judge in 2011. Chief Justice Jensen served as chair of the Unified Judicial System’s Presiding Judges Council, president of the South Dakota Judges Association, and has served on other boards and commission. In 2009, Chief Justice Jensen was appointed as a Judicial Fellow to the Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource Center in Washington D.C.

Vanessa Matthews
Division Director, Treatment Court Institute, All Rise

Vanessa Matthews is the director of the Treatment Court Institute, a division of All Rise. Prior to her current role, she was a police officer with Oklahoma City from 1990 to 2012, working with the Oklahoma County Drug Court from 1998 to 2009. She was instrumental in the development of the program, including policy manual development, budgeting and staff training. Her training presentations and curriculum development include recognizing the signs of mental illness, identifying a subject under the influence of drugs, effectively communicating with consumers, strengths-based interviewing, team building, drug testing, program planning and development, grant writing, community supervision, cultural proficiency for consumers served, ethics and confidentiality in treatment programs, psychopharmacology of drugs for first responders, and community resource identification and development. In 2014, Vanessa was appointed by the governor of Oklahoma to serve on the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. In 2015, she was reappointed to a four-year term and elected chair of the organization. She joined the staff of All Rise in 2016. She has an associate degree from Oklahoma State University in applied police science and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in criminal justice. In July 2020, she was elected to serve on the board of directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In 2023, she was selected to serve as part of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) mental health workgroup.

Desiree Hermocillo
Statewide Problem-Solving Court Unit Manager, Colorado Judicial Branch

Desiree Hermocillo serves as the statewide problem-solving court unit manager for the Colorado Judicial Branch, where she specializes in administrative policy and procedures. With a focus on strategic planning, staff supervision and guiding the work of Colorado Problem-Solving Courts at a statewide level, Desiree plays a pivotal role in shaping the direction and efficacy of these crucial programs.  As a dynamic leader in the field of criminal justice, Desiree brings a wealth of expertise and passion to her role. With a keen understanding of the intersection between behavioral health and the criminal justice system, she believes in  the transformative power of problem-solving courts. Through her strategic leadership and commitment to excellence, Desiree strives to ensure that the programs within the criminal justice programs unit emerge as leaders in spaces where behavioral health intersects with the legal system.

Helen Feroli, MA, LPC, CADC-III
Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor-III, BigTree Behavioral Health Services

With more than 25 years of experience in human and social services, Helen Feroli has expertise in the areas of behavioral health, treatment courts, program development/evaluation, quality management, grant management, stakeholder/community engagement, and education/training. She has worked at the local, state and national level to implement, monitor and enhance mental health and substance use disorder services. Helen has a master of arts in clinical psychology from Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Mass, and is a licensed professional counselor and certified alcohol and drug counselor-III. She is a highly dedicated and compassionate counselor who specializes in working with adults and couples.