26 editions were made as commissioned, but it was decided not to extend production around the fourteenth/fifteenth episode mark, before the show went to air. One reason alluded to when news broke in early October 1980 - towards the very close of the shoot, as planned - was ongoing rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne territories. (This series was Sydney-based, whilst already-established 'sister' drama Prisoner (1979) was from Melbourne, both airing on Network Ten. The idea was flatly dismissed by Ten's Sydney managing director Brian Morris.)
For research the cast made three trips to the Parramatta Correctional Centre (then Parramatta Gaol), speaking with staff and prisoners.
Michael Preston recalled the series being a depressing experience, finding the set claustrophobic and overly identifying with character Larry Morrison after a while. He found it particularly hard to leave the show at the studios whilst taping a storyline where Larry heavied another inmate imprisoned for child molestation charges, before the man is found to be innocent.
It was reported in prepublicity that even the cell graffiti was copied from the walls of genuine prisons.
East Sydney Technical College was the location chosen for the Longridge Prison exteriors. Now The National Art School, the sandstone site had formerly been the genuine Darlinghurst Gaol, operational between 1841 and 1914.