This episode is based on the International Hotel (residential) in San Francisco. In 1977, the local sheriff refused to evict the low income residents and spent 5 days in his own jail for contempt of court.
One of only a few episodes that showed scenes outside of the squad room.
Bruce Kirby plays Lt. Rossmore from the Manhattan South Precinct. He also played Sgt. Vine six times on Kojak (1973), which took place at Manhattan South.