Restrictions were slightly relaxed for John Hinckley Jr. on Friday by U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman, which would allow him three three-day visits to his parents' home in Williamsburg, Virginia. If doctors are satisfied with Hinckley's behavior during that period, he will be allowed four more visits of four nights each.
Hinckley had shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981 along with three other white house aides. He was not indicted as doctors diagnosed that he was suffering from severe depression. He was also found to be obsessed with actress Jodie Foster, who he sought to impress when he shot at the former president.
Initially, Hinckley, who has been in St. Elizabeth's hospital, Washington for the last two decades, was allowed outings only within a 50 mile radius of the hospital when accompanied by his parents.
According to Friedman, these visits to his parent's home would help Hinckley, 50, in developing “normal, healthy and appropriate friendships with both men and women that will withstand the scrutiny necessarily given to them by the psychiatrists and psychologists treating him.”
However, Hinckley would be required to be under his parents' supervision all the time and the latter would have to contact the hospital telephonically each day during his outing.
