Although Love After Lockup has an irresistible hook, casting participants was difficult, with Juris telling Reality Blurred that, because release dates can change at a moment's notice, production is much harder to organize. However, Juris argued that this affords the show an added element of authenticity. Cast members were sourced through online groups with a focus on those "who've changed, who've learned, so we could see their transformation as well." Naturally, serial killers were not considered for the show.

As Juris explained in an interview with The New York Times, Love After Lockup isn't meant to be exploitative. As he explained, "Sometimes you do something stupid and you get a bad break. But that doesn't mean you're not a good person and you don't deserve love." To that end, spinoff show Love After Lockup: Life After Lockup follows fan favorite couples as they continue their relationships further down the line.