Canadian Criminal Sentencing/Offences/Robbery

Principles
In most provinces the case law has set the starting point for robbery in general start at 3 years. The sentence is adjusted from that starting point either up or down based on the circumstances of the offence and the circumstances of the accused. The normal range is in excess of 2 years.

In Manitoba, there is no starting point for robberies.

In Alberta, The starting point for a mugging robbery is 12 to 18 months.

Robberies involving stabbings are frequently in the four to five years range.

As with most robberies and break and enters, the primary focus is deterrence and denunciation, thus, characteristics of the offender may be of limited to no relevance.

In Alberta, the starting point for robbery of a bank by use of a note is 4 years incarceration.

In Nova Scotia, financial institution robberies are in the range of 6 to 10 years.

In the rare cases, robberies can include suspended sentences.

Home Invasion
The term “home invasion” can be applied to wide range of offences and so can be misleading to assume they are all similar cases.

Alberta has required a home invasion is a robbery to include:
 * 1) plan to commit robbery in a home where offender expects to be found in dwelling
 * 2) arms self with weapon
 * 3) enters dwelling that is reasonably known to be occupied
 * 4) confines occupants
 * 5) threaten occupants
 * 6) steals money or valuable property

In Nova Scotia, private dwelling robberies are in the range of 6 to 10 years.

In British Columbia, the range of sentence for home invasions involving serious violence is 8 to 12 years.

In Newfoundland, the "low end" of the acceptable range is 18 months.

Factors
Key Factors
 * age
 * criminal record
 * use of a weapon
 * use of a mask
 * awareness of elderly or otherwise vulnerable victims
 * injuries to victim
 * planning and sophistication
 * opportunity to reconsider plan
 * measure of violence
 * use restraints on victims
 * substance abuse history