The establishment of a degree of mental illness is not in itself sufficient to alter the sentence that would normally be appropriate for the crime at issue. A link between the mental disorder and the crime must be established to justify the inference that culpability is reduced to the extent of warranting a lenient sentence. Defense counsel must establish< the fact of mental disorder, its link to the crime, and the rationale for defense counsel's recommended sentence. Victoria has a law which permits mentally ill offenders, as so certified by a medical practitioner, to be committed to an appropriate State mental institution in lieu of sentencing. The offender must again appear before the court in 3 months for a final hospital order or for sentencing. Another factor in sentencing introduced by a mentally ill offender is the sentencer's perception of the offender's dangerousness. Perceptions of dangerousness can influence the sentencer to use confinement, although appellate courts require that a sentence not be disproportionate to the seriousness of the crime of conviction. 38 footnotes.