This episode appears to be based on several cases/incidents:-
- The 1994 Joseph Bales/Helene Lemay case. In which Bales and Lemay, a Canadian couple claimed their baby disappeared and was stolen in central park in New York city.
- The 1985 Marybeth Tinning case. Marybeth is thought to have killed at least 8 (and probably 9) of her children over a 14-year span. Most of the children had not yet reached the age of one year when they were killed. The deaths were originally thought to have been due to a genetic disease (Reye Syndrome) or SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), but suspicion increased after their adopted son Michael died too. Noted pathologist Michael Baden was involved in the initial investigation and subsequent trial. Tinning is still incarcerated at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women (Bedford Hills, New York) and has been denied parole four times since 2007.
- The 1965-1971 Waneta Hoyt case. Waneta Ethel Hoyt was an American serial killer who was convicted of killing all five of her biological children.
- The debate over compulsory sterilization in the U.S.
EADA Jack McCoy mentions the Joel Steinberg child abuse case, upon which the episode Indifference (1990) was clearly based on.
Detective Lennie Briscoe tells Marty that a kidnapping conviction can get a person a life sentence in prison. This is true for kidnapping in the first degree, which is a class A-1 felony and carries a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to a maximum of life. Kidnapping in the second degree however is a class B felony with a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum of 25 years. A kidnapping gets raised to the level of first degree when a person is abducted for 12 hours, or more, and restrained for the purpose of physical or sexual assault or to hinder a criminal investigation.
Kevin O'Rourke has portrayed six different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 1.12 Life Choice (1991) - Kevin Donovan.
- Episode 5.7 Precious (1994) - Marty Willick.
- Episode 7.16 Turnaround (1997) - Deputy District Attorney Jerry Weiss.
- Episode 10.7 Patsy (1999) - Detective O'Malley.
- Episode 15.9 All in the Family (2004) - Granado's Defense Attorney.
- Episode 16.11 Bible Story (2005) - Stan Malloy.
- Episode 19.22 The Drowned and the Saved (2009) - Amato's Attorney.
- Episode 20.13 Steel-Eyed Death (2010) - Amanda's Attorney.
Amy Hohn has played four different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 5.7 Precious (1994) - Assistant M.E. Manning.
- Episode 6.3 Savages (1995) - Assistant M.E. Manning.
- Episode 7.16 Turnaround (1997) - Canton.
- Episode 10.14 Entitled (2000) - Delia Woodruff.
- Episode 15.4 Coming Down Hard (2004) - Laura Dixon.
- Episode 19.9 By Perjury (2009) - Laura Dixon.