Hinckley May Take Day Trips From Mental Hospital

WASHINGTON —  John W. Hinckley Jr., the man who tried to kill President Reagan, may begin to take supervised day trips from the mental hospital where he has been confined since 1982. A federal appeals court refused Tuesday to reconsider approval of the trips.

Over opposition from federal prosecutors, Hinckley won court permission in January for supervised trips away from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

But the prosecutor, who said Hinckley remains disturbed and unpredictable, blocked the outings by appealing the three-judge panel’s decision to the full U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington.

The decision did not rule directly on the merits of Hinckley’s request to leave the hospital but had the effect of allowing such trips. Hospital officials and Hinckley’s doctors have said that as part of his treatment he should be allowed visits off hospital grounds, supervised by hospital staff.

Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney, said he is unsure whether Tuesday’s decision would be appealed. He said that in a week, when the appeal court’s decision takes effect, the hospital will have discretion to decide when and where Hinckley can take supervised day trips.

Officials at St. Elizabeth’s were not available for comment.

Hinckley’s lawyer, Barry Levine, said he would work with officials to arrange a supervised day trip for Hinckley. Levine said Hinckley probably would visit with his family and his girlfriend.

In 1986, Hinckley “left the hospital for a meal during Christmastime with his family. The hospital treated him like it had treated everybody else,” Levine said. After that, prosecutors sought a court order that they be notified before such excursions.

Hinckley, 43, has been confined since 1982, when he was acquitted by reason of insanity in the 1981 attack on Reagan. Reagan, his press secretary, James Brady, and two law enforcement officers were wounded in the shooting.