An offender's past criminal history for like offences and uncertain rehabilitation prospects are not, on the whole, relevant considerations justifying the exercise of the discretion to make a serious violent offence declaration under s 161B(3) of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld), particularly where the offences do not possess features outside the norm for that type of offence. Rehabilitation prospects are a matter for the parole authorities. For armed robbery sentencing, the comparable range for two robberies without gratuitous violence by an offender with significant criminal history, with bail and parole breaches but an early guilty plea, is eight to nine years without a serious violent offence declaration.
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