Date of Conferral

8-20-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Tammy Evans

Abstract

Substance abuse remains a major challenge in the U.S. probation system, as recidivism persists despite specialized treatment programs such as the Treatment Alternatives to Incarceration Program (TAIP) available in Texas. This issue matters to policymakers, judges, community supervision officers, TAIP administrators, treatment providers, and local communities because decisions about funding, supervision, sanctions, coordination, and service delivery affect rehabilitation outcomes, public safety, and reoffending. This transcendental phenomenological study explored TAIP counselors’ perceptions of the program’s effectiveness in treating substance abuse offenders and reducing recidivism in West Texas. Guided by Husserl’s phenomenology, data were collected through semi structured interviews with four TAIP counselors and analyzed using Moustakas’s transcendental phenomenological method, including phenomenological coding, horizontalization, and thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: resources, program limitations, structural and communication gaps, and training and skill development needs. Counselors viewed evidence-based tools as beneficial for motivated clients but identified systemic barriers, including inconsistent judicial responses to relapse and poor communication with probation officers. The findings suggest that stronger interagency coordination and more consistent judicial practices could improve rehabilitation outcomes.

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