Hinckley freed from hospital
Reagan’s assailant will live at his mother’s Virginia home, with some conditions.
The man who shot Reagan will live a restricted life with his mother.
WASHINGTON — John Hinckley Jr., who shot President Reagan in a 1981 assassination attempt, arrived at his mother’s Virginia home Saturday after being freed for good from St. Elizabeth’s mental hospital.
A federal judge ruled in late July that the 61-year-old Hinckley is not a danger to himself or the public and can live full time at the home in Williamsburg, Va.
Hinckley already had been visiting Williamsburg for long stretches and preparing for the full-time transition. He’ll have to follow a lot of rules, but his longtime lawyer, Barry Levine, says he thinks Hinckley will be a “citizen about whom we can all be proud.”
This is what life will look like in Williamsburg for Hinckley:
Work
Hinckley will have to work or volunteer at least three days a week. He hasn’t yet done paid work in Williamsburg, but he has volunteered at a church and a mental health hospital.
Home Sweet Home
Hinckley will start off living with his elderly mother in her home in the gated community of Kingsmill. Hinckley’s room has a kingsize bed and TV and is decorated with paintings he has done of houses and cats, according to court documents. In the past, he has done chores like cleaning, dishwashing, laundry and leaf-raking. After a year, he may live alone or with roommates.
Therapy
Hinckley will continue to go to therapy. For at least six months, he’ll see his psychiatrist twice a month and will attend weekly group therapy sessions. He’ll also see a therapist individually. He’ll return to Washington once a month to St. Elizabeth’s to discuss his mental health and compliance with the conditions of his release.
Leisure
Hinckley paints and plays the guitar and has been involved in both as part of his therapy. He’ll continue to see a music therapist once a month.
There are limits to how Hinckley can spend his leisure time. He can’t drink or use illegal drugs. He can’t have accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn without permission.
Voting
Hinckley can register to vote in Virginia. He has expressed an interest in voting in the past. Levine has said he expects his client will register to vote. Virginia’s deadline to register for the November election is Oct. 17.
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