Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera) is a synthetic form of the female sex hormone progesterone. It is mainly used as a form of birth control for women. However, it is also used in men as a form of chemical castration: it reduces a male's sex drive by inhibiting testosterone production. It is used to treat male hyper-sexuality or to control inappropriate or unwanted sexual behavior in those with paraphilias (intense sexual arousal to atypical objects, situations, or persons) such as pedophilia. The effectiveness of Depo-Provera for treating sex offenders is controversial: a number of studies indicate that its effectiveness at controlling the urges experienced by sexual offenders is minimal at best. For example, the urges experienced by rapists have much more to do with power and control than sex, which is why suppressing sexual desire does little to deter rapists.
This episode appears to be based on the 1997 murder of 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson committed by Jeremy Strohmeyer.
John Cunningham has played five different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 2.11 His Hour Upon the Stage (1991) - Cobb.
- Episode 3.18 Animal Instinct (1993) - Donald Walsh.
- Episode 5.2 Coma (1994) - Max Weston.
- Episode 7.14 Working Mom (1997) - Daniel Metzler.
- Episode 9.7 Venom (1998) - Daniel Metzler.
- Episode 9.22 Admissions (1999) - Mr. Crowley.
- Episode 18.4 Bottomless (2008) - Daniel Metzler.
- Episode 12.12 Undercovered (2002) - Daniel Metzler.
Maddie Corman has played three different roles over the course of the series:
- Episode 9.22 Admissions (1999) - Melissa Slater.
- Episode 14.6 Identity (2003) - Andee Mae Haley.
- Episode 16.9 Criminal Law (2005) - Elaine Bowman.
Frank Converse has played five different roles over the course of the series:
- Episode 2.11 His Hour Upon the Stage (1991) - Gary Wallace.
- Episode 6.11 Corpus Delicti (1996) - Lyle Christopher.
- Episode 9.22 Admissions (1999) - Mr. Kelly
- Episode 14.23 Caviar Emptor (2004) - Stable Manager.
- Episode 19.4 Falling (2008) - Wayne Hardy.