A young autistic man who has spent nearly a week in prison has now been put in a special care facility, after the judge called the situation "outrageous".
The 18-year-old was charged with assault and taken into custody on Sunday after he allegedly assaulted his mother.
The man, who has name suppression, has been kept in a secure unit at Whanganui Prison.
Judge Gerard Lynch described the situation as "outrageous" when the young man appeared in the Palmerston North District Court this morning.
He stood the matter down until this afternoon, so health and care providers could find a suitable placement for the man and he could be released from jail.
When the man reappeared, Judge Lynch dropped the assault charge and placed him in a hospital facility for 10 days.
Autism New Zealand said there was a shortage of support, services and funding for autism sufferers and their families.
Chief executive Dane Dougan said while it was not common to put autistic people in jail, there was a shortage of facilities.
"The biggest issue is just that there is really an over-demand and under-supply of beds, particularly in the regional areas of New Zealand," he said.
"We're seeing more and more adults now that are really needing residential care, and there is just nothing available. It's starting to get really concerning."
