Tom Green County Voters Strongly Back Stricter Bail Measure in Latest Results

SAN ANGELO, TX — Tom Green County voters supported Proposition 3 in Tuesday’s constitutional amendment election, according to unofficial results from the Tom Green County Elections Office. The measure passed locally with 7,188 votes for and 2,613 against, or roughly 73% support.

Proposition 3 modifies the Texas Constitution to allow judges to deny bail for people accused of certain violent felonies when prosecutors show detention is necessary to protect public safety or ensure the defendant appears in court. Defendants retain the right to counsel during these hearings.

Existing Texas law already allows judges to deny bail in capital murder cases and for some repeat felony offenders. Proposition 3 expands that authority and adds a new category of violent offenses where judges may order detention following a hearing.

The U.S. Constitution presumes criminal defendants innocent before trial. According to reporting by The Texas Tribune, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that pretrial detention is not intended to be automatic, and bail is meant to ensure accused individuals return to court. The Tribune also noted that critics of the current bail system argue that people who cannot afford bond often remain jailed for extended periods despite not being convicted, raising concerns about unequal treatment and overcrowding in jails.

Supporters of the amendment argue it strengthens public safety by allowing courts to hold high-risk defendants in serious violent cases.