BEAUMONT, Texas — A new Texas constitutional amendment will take effect Jan. 1, requiring judges and magistrates to deny bail to people accused of certain violent offenses if approved by voters in November.

More than 60% of Texans supported the change, which is expected to bring major impacts to the court system.

The amendment mandates that anyone charged with crimes such as murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery, sexual assault, indecency with a child and human trafficking, among others, will no longer be eligible for bail before trial.

Justice of the Peace Ben Collins says he supports the change to better protect communities.

“We’ve been asking for this for years,” Collins said, adding that the amendment “sends a message to the community that the safety of our community is a

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