Justice (Red Dwarf)

"Justice" is the third episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series IV and the twenty-first episode in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 28 February 1991; although it was planned to be broadcast as the second episode, it was moved back in the schedule by the BBC. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the episode features the crew's visit to a high-tech prison where Rimmer is charged with the death of the Red Dwarf crew.

While Lister is down with a bout of space mumps, Red Dwarf picks up an escape pod from a prison ship that was transporting dangerous criminals to their final trial, sentence and incarceration on Justice World. But what's inside? It could either be beautiful prison guard Barbara Bellini or a psychotic mass-murdering simulant, as they were the only two to escape the prison ship after a prisoner revolt. The crew have to satisfy their curiosity after Cat turns on the defrosting unit, but can take no chances, with Kryten explaining simulants are immune to most weapons. Holly suggests that they take the pod to Justice World, where there are containment facilities. Therefore, if the occupant of the pod is Bellini then they can simply let her out and if it's the Simulant, the crew can leave it to rot.

On arriving at Justice World the Justice Computer scans the crews' minds for signs of guilt, causing Lister worry as in his youth he committed petty offences like stealing beds from hotels, but the Justice Computer decides that Lister's crimes are not serious enough to warrant punishment. Rimmer on the other hand is convicted of 1,167 counts of second-degree murder, a consequence of his faulty drive-plate repair that killed the crew of Red Dwarf, and sentenced to nearly 10,000 years' imprisonment. Kryten proves to the Justice computer Judge that Rimmer's immense guilt stems from his own inflated sense of importance. A man as incompetent and insignificant as Rimmer, he argues, would never be given tasks that might put the whole crew in danger. Rimmer, although deeply offended, and despite objecting to his own defence on many occasions (which Kryten uses as an example of his stupidity), is found not guilty, and is therefore free to go.