THE STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON HOW MONEY APPROPRIATED TO COVER THE COSTS OF CRIMINAL CASES IS ACTUALLY SPENT. A RANDOM SAMPLE OF 150 LEGAL AID TAXED BILLS OF COSTS WERE DRAWN FROM 12 COURTS - SIX FIRST AND SECOND TIER AND SIX THIRD TIER. CASES WERE COMPARED IN CRIME CLASS CATEGORIES AND CASE LENGTH TO DETERMINE THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF THE SURVEY. TAX BILLS PREPARED BY THE COURTS IN ALL PUBLICLY SUPPORTED DEFENSE EFFORTS WERE COMPARED FOR THE SAMPLE CASES. THE RESULTS REVEALED THAT MORE COMPLEX TRIALS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN SHORTER AND SIMPLER ONES.