Lucinda Yellowhair is an enrolled tribal member of the Navajo Nation (Dine’). She currently
holds the Director’s position as the Chief Probation Officer under Probation & Parole Services
with the Navajo Nation Judicial Branch, Window Rock, Arizona. Lucinda holds a dual Bachelor
of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology; she also holds a Master’s Degree in
Counseling-Human Relations from Arizona State University and the University of Northern
Arizona. Lucinda has 37+ years of experience in the Navajo Nation Criminal Justice system, 17
years as an adult and juvenile probation officer, 5 years as a Court Administrator and 16 years
as a Chief Probation Officer.
Chief Probation Officer Yellowhair developed and established the current Navajo Probation &
Parole Services sustaining its own business unit, staffing four Senior Probation Officers and 20+
frontline line staff. Lucinda serves as the first female Chief Probation Officer for the Navajo
Nation. She oversees thirteen probation districts across the Navajo Nation extending into
Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
Lucinda serves on various committees as a member and a stakeholder. She has served on the
Arizona Supreme Court to the Committee on Probation since 2015. She also serves on the
Dine’ Action Plan Advisory Committee, a multidisciplinary advisory approach to addressing
modern day “Naayee’” (monster slayers, modern day interpretation metaphorically as ill-starred
effects of alcohol/substance addictions, domestic violence and intergenerational trauma).
Lucinda is a stakeholder serving on the Navajo Nation Integrated Justice Information Sharing
Project. Community Court Partnership, implementing the Community Court initiative in the Utah
Navajo Court/Probation Services through pilot work of Center for Court Innovations. Served 5
years as a volunteer victim advocate under the Victim Advocacy Volunteer Program, (VAVP) a
non-profit organization assisting the local Kayenta Police Department, Kayenta, Arizona. Over
the years, Lucinda has collaborated with multiple jurisdictions, including County, State, Federal
and Tribal agencies in the four corners regional Indian Country.
Lucinda’s concept of the “Mutton Flavor”, a Navajo cultural concept of uniqueness she
incorporates into the probation training curriculum; utilizing and preserving the Dine’ language,
refining the teaching of disciplinary approach from the enriched culture and the Dine way of life.
She continues to home in her passion for inspiring education and professional growth through
creativity, and collaboration.
Lucinda, in her spare time enjoys gardening, exploring new travel destinations, and cherishing
time with her grandson.