The city spent $125 million on indigent defense last year, up from $116 million in 1995.

Kentucky spends an average of $103 per case for indigent defense.

By definition, the cause of indigent defense has no powerful lobby to support it.

A report commissioned by the Mississippi Legislature says that the state and county governments pay $3.19 per capita for indigent defense.

Mr. Ellis also plans to introduce legislation improving the quality of indigent defense in capital cases.

A study by the state bar called indigent defense in Texas a national embarrassment.

The state agency responsible for indigent defense has run out of money, and other cases are at risk of being delayed or derailed.

Total spending on indigent defense in Los Angeles County is about $140 million.

The state lacks standards to define what it means to provide adequate indigent defense and has no system for enforcing such standards, the report said.

But many say that in a time of tight resources and frustration over crime, indigent defense is unlikely ever to become a major priority.