THE CLAIM: Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes claims on his campaign website that deputies have made around 400 drug arrests annually in Houston County and seized thousands of dollars from drug dealers while he has been sheriff. Houston County's population is around 100,000, according to Census figures.

SUMMARY: According to statistics provided by Carol Roberts at the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center’s website, there was an average of 342 drug arrests per year by the deputies at the Houston County Sheriff’s Office from 2007-2009. The statistics provided by Roberts show the deputies at the Houston County Sheriff’s Office made 419 drug arrests in 2007, 347 in 2008, and 261 in 2009.

Roberts, a statistician with the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, said the statistics did not include possession of drug paraphernalia charges. All of their statistics were provided to them by the Houston County Sheriff’s Office.

ANALYSIS: There is no doubt deputies at the Houston County Sheriff’s Office make a substantial number of drug arrests on annual basis. However, the 400 arrests per year claim is only accurate for 2007, according to the statistics provided by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.