1.   Among them were the aging of the population, a toughening of sentencing laws and the increasing numbers of people in prison.

2.   A dispute over a proposal to make major changes in criminal sentencing laws widened on Tuesday, threatening to delay passage of the state budget yet another week.

3.   A number of organizations oppose mandatory sentencing laws because judges cannot give special consideration to women with young children.

4.   Alice Green objects vehemently to the tougher sentencing laws.

5.   But it is unclear whether this trend indicates more mental illness, or reflects tougher sentencing laws that are driving greater numbers of all young people behind bars.

6.   But legal experts said the court also could use the cases to make a broader statement on sentencing laws that would affect many states.

7.   But the disturbances have suddenly drawn attention to the debate over mandatory federal sentencing laws for crack cocaine offenses.

8.   Conservatives say it is tougher sentencing laws.

9.   For instance, Pataki declined Thursday afternoon to discuss the resolution of a weeklong dispute over new sentencing laws.

10.   Fong said he instead backed tougher sentencing laws for criminals who use firearms.