Reagan shooter granted full-time convalescent leave News
Reagan shooter granted full-time convalescent leave

A judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia [official website] on Wednesday ordered [opinion] Ronald Reagan shooter John Hinckley Jr. released from a government psychiatric hospital. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1981 and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital where he has remained for 35 years. The release places restrictions on Hinckley, although he will be allowed to live on his own in a year. Hinckley is required to attend individual and group therapy sessions and is barred from talking to the media. There are also restrictions on how far he can travel. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation disagrees with the ruling and argues Hinckley is still a threat to others in the community.

Hinckley has lived at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center [hospital website] in Washington since he was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the shootings of Reagan, press secretary James Brady and two law enforcement officers. Over the last 12 years, Hinckley has gradually been granted more and more freedom to spend time at his mother’s home [JURIST report] rather than in the hospital. According to Hinckley’s treatment providers, he has not shown any signs of psychotic symptoms, delusional thinking or any violent tendencies.