This episode appears to be based on the Larry Hogue (a.k.a. "The Wild Man of 96th Street") case. In the early 1990's Hogue, a homeless crack addict had terrorized the 96th street for several years until being forced into treatment and extended state custody. In 2009, Hogue escaped from custody and returned briefly to West 96th Street before being found and returned to treatment.
Denis O'Hare has played four different characters over the course of the series.
- Episode 4.2 Volunteers (1993) - Harold Morrissey.
- Episode 6.21 Pro Se (1996) - James Smith.
- Episode 8.5 Nullification (1997) - Phil Christie.
- Episode 13.12 Under God (2003) - Father Richard Hogan.
Chris Noth (Detective Mike Logan) & Denis O'Hare (Harold Morrissey) also worked together on nine episodes of The Good Wife (2009) as Peter Florrick & Judge Charles Abernathy respectively.
Denis O'Hare and Betsy Aidem would later appear together as husband and wife in Nullification (1997) in Season 8.