This episode marks the first time that SVU has had any kind of crossover with Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001), despite the fact the latter show was cancelled in 2011. It also marks the first time that the Alexandra Eames character makes an appearance on a Law & Order branded show other than Criminal Intent.
Kathyrn Erbe reprises her role as Alexandra Eames in this episode. She makes a second appearance towards the end of the season in the episode Poisoned Motive (2013)
When Eames is questioning Sofia, she employs the "Goren lean," a tactic her eccentric partner, Robert Goren, used when interrogating suspects to maintain eye contact and keep them intimidated and off guard.
When Lieutenant Eames is questioning Sofia she tells her that she knows Sofia is from Waziristan, which is a mountainous region in northwest Pakistan. It is the region a lot of Taliban fled to during the initial United States invasion of Afghanistan following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. It was one of the regions that Osama Bin Laden was believed to be hiding in, the CIA and US military intelligence spent a lot of time and manpower searching this region during the early days of the war.