This is the first of three consecutive episodes (along with Give a Little, Take a Little (1984) and Little Prince (1984)) that open with establishing shots of the seedy areas of Miami, many of which are located in the South Beach area before the revitalization that took place there during and after the series was on the air.
John Pankow, who plays Floyd Higgins, also starred in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), which has been noted for its similarities to the series. In fact, Michael Mann launched an unsuccessful lawsuit against the film's producers, alleging that it plagiarised the television series' concept.
Crockett uses the alias "Sonny Bates" while undercover, making this one of the few episodes where he uses something other than his traditional Sonny Burnett cover story. He previously employed the Sonny Bates alias in Cool Runnin' (1984).
In a touch of continuity, the Assistant District Attorney prosecuting the Ruiz case (played by an uncredited Pat Julian) is the same District Attorney who works the Alvarado case with Crockett and Tubbs in the next episode, Give a Little, Take a Little (1984).