John Hinckley Jr.'s History of Deception During Previous Releases

Prosecutors strongly objected to John Hinckley Jr.'s release from a psychiatric hospital due to the fact he lied about his whereabouts multiple times when he was temporarily released in recent years.

Federal Judge Paul Friedman wrote a 103 page opinion when he signed off on Hinckley's release -- and in the docs he says the government pushed for more restrictions and protective measures for President Reagan's would-be killer.

The government pointed out that when Hinckley was released in 2011 on a work furlough he told supervisors he intended to go see movies ... which was approved -- but instead he went to a Barnes & Noble. They say Hinckley did this twice ... but both times he lied to supervisors and said he'd gone to the movies.

His supervisors knew he was lying because he was under constant observation.

Then in 2015 during another release ... he broke from his approved itinerary and visited a musician friend, instead of a photographer. This time though he fessed up to supervisors about the lie.

Judge Friedman called the 2011 incidents "troubling from a risk management perspective" ... but said Hinckley had made great progress. Friedman considered 2015 an improvement since he self-reported his lie.