Archive of Our Own

Pre-Sentencing Report

Offender Details

Sentencing Court

Source of Information

Offence Details

Eva Stratt is charged with kidnapping, manslaughter, violations of Environment Agency enforcement and sanctions policy, extortion, violations of copyright and intellectual property. In her role as an ESA administrator she committed several offences beginning with actions in August 2024, where Stratt ordered copies of all available digital data acquisitions and licensing, and patented mechanisms to be placed on hard drives for the Hail Mary ship, without express permission from all relevant parties. Three months later, Stratt ordered the paving of the Sahara Desert for the breeding of the Astrophage fuel, causing unpredictable changes to local and global climates.  In May 2025, Stratt ordered the nuclear strike on areas of the Antarctic, causing a severe destruction to protected areas and native species. In June 2026, Stratt was responsible for the deaths of Martin Dubois and Annie Shapiro, scientists involved in Project Hail Mary, as a result of negligence with fuel-related materials. In July 2026, 9 days before the launch of the Hail Mary, Stratt kidnapped scientist Ryland Grace, under her orders he was chased down and drugged unconscious before being induced into a coma and taken to board the Hail Mary ship against his explicit will. She is also responsible for the extortion and blackmail to various figures and governing bodies to fund the mission of the Project Hail Mary. 

Offence Analysis

Accommodation

Accommodation is one of the key problems faced before and after being in prison (Maguire et al. 2000). It is necessary to have suitable accommodation for offenders because a lack of it, homelessness can both be the cause and consequence of offending behaviour and imprisonment (Mago et al. 2013). Greenberg & Rosenheck (2008) found that 33% of prisoners had unstable accommodation prior to their imprisonment and similarly one third of prisoners lost their accommodation as a result of being imprisoned. Finding accommodation once released from prison is challenging because it relies on a source of income which is another issue people face due to additional stigma of being an offender - finding accommodation would be difficult with social attitudes (Maguire and Nolan, 2012). The recidivism rate for people who leave prison with no access to accommodation is 20% more than people who leave and have a stable place of accommodation (NACRO, 2000; Maguire and Nolan, 2012). 

The impact of loss of accommodation for Stratt would be key in engaging in criminal activity, however there is no history of this where it would lead to any meaningful risk of reoffending. 

Employment and Finance

Unemployment can lead to financial difficulties and consequently criminal behaviour before and after imprisonment (Levit, 2001). Kling (1999) highlights how offenders struggled with finances - where wages and employment rates fell 2 to 3 years prior to their date of conviction. A lack of income and employment negatively impacts mental wellbeing and results in offending (Sharma et al. 2015). Communities with higher levels of unemployment rates and economic deprivation often experience heightened levels of crime and violence (Entorf and Spengler, 2000). Unemployment consequently leads to other social problems such as increased mental health disorders and suicidal tendencies, increased pressure on health and housing services, and education and infrastructure expenditures (Ayhan and Burse, 2019). 

In relation to Eva Stratt, finance was a significant factor in her offences; to fund the Project Hail Mary she used sensitive information and the threats of violence with the US military at her disposal. In her employment as an ESA administrator, she demonstrated an abuse of power and ordered the kidnapping of a scientist under her management. Yet the stigma of being an offender and severity of crimes Stratt committed, would undoubtedly make finding employment difficult. Her criminal behaviour indicates she is willing to gain finance illegally and has no issue with ruthless use of her resources.

Relationships

People who have meaningful commitments and high levels of attachment in relationships or marriage that hold significant value are unlikely to endanger these relationships by committing crimes (Sampson et al. 2006). These are a form of social control which keeps urges of criminal behaviours under control, for example adults who would not want to risk friendships or intimate partner relationships (Hirschi, 1969). Barnes and Beaver (2012) state marriage is a key protective factor for offenders, and Theobald and Farrington (2009) found in a study of convictions of unmarried and married men that before marriage the conviction numbers stayed the same but after marriage there was a 70% reduction in convictions for married men between the ages of 18 -24. Furthermore Theobald and Farrington (2010) discovered that it was only marriages that endured for 5 years or more that had the effect of decreasing offending behaviour. 

Stratt has no previous relationships or marriages on record. This is a factor in her offending, the lack of attachment means fewer social bonds. Personal relationships become less of a priority in her life, this means it is not a consideration before committing the various offences. 

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

The involvement of drugs and alcohol in life can cause crime, for example handling illegal substances or alcohol leading to poor decisions or violence (Ford and Beveridge, 2006). Crime can lead to drug and alcohol misuse because drugs are present in prisons and users often are repeat offenders, and drugs and alcohol are used for coping methods if involved in crime (Delisi, 2003). The societal cost of illegal substances within healthcare is approximately $193bn per annum and where drug activity is in an area there is also increased assaultive violence rates (Contreras and Hipp, 2020).

Stratt has a previous minor conviction of possession of a Class B controlled substance in her youth and should therefore be monitored for any attempts at acquiring more. However, she has had no record of issues with alcohol but this should also be closely monitored. 

Mental and Physical Health

Fazel et al. (2016) state research shows prisoners have higher rates of psychiatric disorders than the general population - at 10 million people in prison every year globally and 30 million circulating through prison systems annually, the overrepresentation of people with psychiatric disorders are often poorly treated and under diagnosed. People with mental health issues are more at risk of self-harm, suicide and violence (Fazel et al, 2016). Physical health is important because lack of access to healthcare can exacerbate medical problems and affect reintegration into community and reducing reoffending (Bradshaw, 2017). Better health increases social stability in finding employment, accommodation and interpersonal relationships (Bradshaw, 2017). 

Stratt does not have known mental health issues but the effect of going through the justice system may have a negative impact on her mental health. Neither does she have any physical disabilities. 

Pattern of Offending

Risk Assessment

High ROH:

Stratt has shown she is capable of financial extortion, and intellectual material theft and serious harm to both the environment and several individuals. The motivation is clearly derived from being appointed to an ESA administrator and taking the lead of the Petrova Taskforce. She is capable serious harm, even indirectly, of causing the deaths of people through negligence, and directly with ordering the suicide mission of Ryland Grace. 

Response to previous supervision

Stratt was charged with possession of a Class B substance in 1998, and between that time and the current charges there has been no evidence of offending in any capacity. The previous sentence only included a fine and it was not a deterrent for further recidivism. 

Likelihood of Reoffending

The offender assessment system (OASys) places Stratt as high ROH and the system is based on the likelihood of reoffending and being reconvicted within two years and the risk of committing serious harm which applies to serious personal injury including psychological and physical, and death (HMPPS, 2019). There would be some  capacity for self management if given the opportunity resulting in an escalating pattern of reoffending (HMPPS, 2020).

Her motivation for the offences derives from the need to further the cause of the mission, but once in the community, if she would be given similar responsibility she is likely to continue further behaviours and reoffends on a serious level. If released it is also likely she would continue using her resources within the community to further commit offences to support herself financially as a consequence of the charges was her assets and funds being frozen and seized, however through active management it is possible to mitigate the risk. Some level of compliance with risk management strategies and it would be possible to control harm caused by her offending. 

Risk of Self Harm

Sahlin et al. (2017) found that self-harm was significantly associated with crime because there is increased risk of violent crimes. Stattin and Magnusson (1989) state impulsive hostility and aggression was closely linked to violent crime.  The expression of aggressive acts on oneself and others has a short-term emotion regulative function such as immediate reduction of unwanted experiences (Bresin, 2014).

There has been no history of self-harm with Stratt therefore it is not a risk but with the severity of offences and the results of the mission of the Hail Mary being approximately 20 years from completion, they may lead to mental health issues causing self-harm so Stratt should be closely monitored for signs. 

Sentence Proposal

For the offences she is charged with, the recommended sentence for Eva Stratt is life imprisonment. It is necessary to incapacitate her from reoffending with the risk she poses and the level of command and reach she has demonstrated.

Date:    April 2027

Sentence Plan in Custody

Risk Assessment

OASys

This is a risk assessment tool that was introduced in 2001, it stands for Offender Assessment System and it uses both actuarial and dynamic factors to assess offenders (HMPPS, 2019). OASys is a fourth generation tool which integrates offender specific factors that are important for intervention and treatments to be planned and monitored (Moore, 2015). OASys covers components of offender needs with individual level needs, personality, reasoning and temperament, and external social influences which all may impact on offending behaviour (Moore, 2015). The risk of serious harm assessment focuses on the likelihood for life threatening injury or traumatic events and the risk this poses for groups for people such as children, known targets, staff and more (HMPPS, 2019; Moore, 2015). 

OASys as a fourth generation assessment tool has been developed from previous generation’s tools which included professional judgement, actuarial and static factors, dynamic with static factors and finally offender specific factors, and this means it has been developed over time with updates and changes made so that it is the most effective and reliable system for assessing risk (Andrews et al. 2006). To be improved on however is that there are areas of duplication to remove and the structure and content of the self assessment questionnaire could be revisited to be more effective (Moore, 2015). Another area of weakness is the online support, there are issues with navigation and the content which could be further reviewed for better availability and ease of navigation (Moore, 2015). 

This is an appropriate risk assessment tool for Eva Stratt because it assesses offenders using a range of factors that are particular to the offender and does not limit itself to static factors or a single person’s judgement (Bonta, 1996). It measures the likelihood for reoffending and the harm that would occur from it, and this is relevant for Stratt because her offending behaviour has been severely harmful, and the repetitive offences she committed to further the same goals each time, completing the Project Hail Mary mission (HMPPS, 2019). 

Intervention

Thinking Skills Programme (TSP) 

This is a cognitive skills intervention which addresses how offenders think, and their behaviour in association with offences; it seeks to reduce recidivism by responding, motivating and engaging with individual needs and building continuity with offenders (Gobbett and Sellen, 2014). The programme is aimed at adult women and men at a medium to high risk of reoffending (Ministry of Justice, 2021). TSP aims to support the development of skills in planning and creating goals that are achievable without committing offences and it involves an understanding of offender rehabilitation theory, research, and practice (Gobbett and Sellen, 2014; Harris & Riddy, 2008). 

The Thinking Skills Programme was phased in to replace the Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) intervention January 2009 because ETS did not have the desired or statistically significant outcomes in reducing recidivism with offender participants (Gobbett and Sellen, 2014). One of the advantages of TSP is that it involves the participants at a personal level and takes into account what the programme material means to individuals, and it is sensitive to the offender's learning styles, particular learning needs and strengths they possess (Gobbett and Sellen, 2014). Turner (2008) found the programme feedback had positive responses, offenders had understood what in their lives had gone wrong and that they had a chance to get help. It also showed offenders had applied skills and learnt new strategies to deal with situations and problems that they may face (Turner, 2008). Another study on female participants further showed the effectiveness of TSP, as they had gained a better understanding of themselves and insight into personal factors that led up to the offences committed, and the programme had increased the understanding of how their general behaviour affected others (Barrett, 2008). The women had learnt how to manage impulsive behaviour and how their behaviour had affected their relationships with the people around them that they care about which was especially valued (Barrett, 2008).

The Thinking Skills Programme may be a good fit for Stratt because it partakes in managing goals without needing to offend, and for Stratt this would mean planning other ways of maintaining a source of income using legal pathways rather than extortion or blackmail. The programme helps with seeing how impulsivity and other behaviours impact others negatively, and so it would be a good fit for Stratt to understand this for herself. This intervention also seeks to develop protective factors and build pro-social goals with offenders, therefore it would help coach Stratt into reliable and stable ways of living without committing offences to further her goals. 

References

Pre-sentence Report

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Barnes, J.C.and Beaver, K.M. (2012) ‘Marriage and Desistance From Crime: A Consideration of Gene–Environment Correlation’, Journal of Family and Marriage, 74(1), pp. 19-33. 

Bresin, K. (2014) ‘Five indices of emotion regulation in participants with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury: a daily diary study, Behavioural Therapy, 45(1), pp. 56-66.

Contreras, C and Hipp, J.R. (2020) ‘Drugs, Crime, Space, and Time: A Spatiotemporal Examination of Drug Activity and Crime Rates’, Justice Quarterly, 37(2), pp. 187-209. 

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Sentence Plan in Custody

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