A brig is a jail aboard a ship.
Given her average crew size, Galactica has several brigs. One has at least two small cells with bunks. The other brig has one larger cell with no commodities for high-security prisoners. In the episodes in which the brigs have made appearances, there is usually a Marine guard standing watch inside the room. In the high-security brig, there are usually around four.
After "Boomer" Valerii is revealed as a Cylon, Colonel Tigh orders the construction of a third reinforced brig, built for the specific purpose of containing captured Cylon agents, who possess strength far greater than a human, for an extended period (Resistance).
The new brig was constructed with maximum security in mind; instead of having simple bars, its walls consist of metal grid screens welded tightly together, reinforced by composite plastics (a telephone is used to communicate between the inside and outside of the cell).
After being brought to Galactica, Caprica-Valerii is detained within the new Cylon brig. The virtual Number Six image that haunts Gaius Baltar falsely claims that Valerii's hybrid daughter will be born in this cell (Home, Part II).
Battlestar Pegasus has a more advanced brig than Galactica, with composite plastic walls instead of metal bars, and computer ID recognition cards required for entry.
Notable characters who have spent time in the brig are:
Season 1
- Starbuck, for striking a superior officer (Miniseries)
- Aaron Doral, under suspicion for being a Cylon agent (Miniseries)
- Specialist Socinus, for lying under oath and leaving his post (Litmus)
- Gaius Baltar, for suspected acts of treason, allegedly collaborating with the Cylons (Six Degrees of Separation)
- President Laura Roslin, as a consequence of a successful coup d'etat led by Commander Adama (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II)
Season 2
- "Boomer" Valerii, discovered as a Cylon agent, for shooting a superior officer (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II).
- Lee Adama, for mutiny ("Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II", furloughed from the brig through "Resistance").
- Galen Tyrol, under suspicion of conspiring with "Boomer" Valerii (Resistance). Also confined to Pegasus’ brig by Admiral Helena Cain for the death of Lt. Alistair Thorne (Pegasus).
- Cally Henderson, for "discharging a firearm without permission" (killing "Boomer" Valerii in a crowded hallway) (Resistance).
- Caprica-Valerii, Detained while serving as a Cylon informant in the special Cylon brig ("Home, Part II" through "Precipice").
- Joe "Hammerhead" Palladino, for attempted murder of a superior officer (Final Cut)
- Karl "Helo" Agathon, confined to Pegasus’ brig by Admiral Helena Cain for the death of Lt. Alistair Thorne (Pegasus).
- Gina, detained and tortured in Pegasus’ brig as a Cylon agent (Pegasus).
- Royan Jahee, detained aboard Galactica for involvement in the Demand Peace movement (Epiphanies).
- Asha Janik, for acts of sabotage on Galactica's Viper ammunition (Epiphanies).
- Cole "Stinger" Taylor, placed in Pegasus’ brig by Commander Barry Garner for insubordination (The Captain's Hand).
- Cavil copies, one serving as a brother, the second found on Caprica, placed in Galactica’s brig as Cylon agents (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).