running away

[deedee]

im 18 years old and this is the second time my mother had kick me out. im in high school this is my last year can my mother get an acs case if i stop going? can she go to the cops after she kick me out and tell them that i ran away? i live in the bronx can i leave her house i dont want to stay but i dont want the cops looking for me.

[ccsmod7]

Re: running away

We are so glad that you reached out to tell us a bit about your situation. It sounds like you are going through a lot right now and trying to figure out what is going to be the best option for you. You mentioned that your mother recently kicked you out and you are concerned about her contacting the police and reporting you as a runaway. You also mentioned that ideally you would like to leave her home and stay somewhere else. Do you have a safe place you are staying now or somewhere you will be able to stay if you leave for good? It also sounds like you are concerned that she can get you in trouble if you stop going to school. Do you want to finish your last year of high school? Have you spoken with anyone at school about what is going on?

In most states the age of majority, when a youth is considered an adult, is 18. Now we are not lawyers here so we cannot say how the police would act in this case but there are many states (sometimes it depends on the city or county) that have discrepancies between the age of majority and the age a youth is considered a runaway. For example we often hear that while the legal age of majority is 18, at 17 the local police no longer take runaway reports or make the youth return home if they leave without permission. Sometimes the best option to get this specific information is just contacting someone through your local police on their nonemergency line. Even if you didn’t want to tell them your specific situation you could just ask them a few questions such as…

1. At what age is a youth no longer considered a runaway?
2. If an 18 y/o leaves home without permission, do you still take a runaway report?
3. If yes: what happens if/when that youth is found?

We are sorry to hear that you are dealing with such a difficult situation right now but we are glad that you reached out through our bulletin board. If you would like to discuss your situation immediately and more in depth you can always give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). Our crisis hotline is available 24 hours a day so there is always someone available to help. We also have an online chat that is available from 4:30p to 11:30p CST. We are available to provide support, discuss options, and even find helpful resources in your area if needed. All of our services are completely confidential and anonymous. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime.

[needsadvice]

Needs legal answers

My child is 17, we live in missouri, he is dating a 17 year old, he got it from his freinds, that at 17 he can leave home without consent as long as he mantains a job, and can take care of himself. we don't wish him to see this girl, so we are attempting to ban him from work, and not see her, can he legally leave home, were we can't report him as a runaway. i didnt want to contact police as it is simply a threat

[ccsmod5]

Re: running away

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. Sounds like you’re going through a very intense time right now. It’s good that you’ve contacted us. Hopefully we’ll be able to clarify some things for you.

The legal age of adulthood in MO is 18. That means that a 17 year old cannot decide where to live. Parents are responsible for children under 17 and if a youth runs from home (running away is leaving without permission/allowance) they have the option of making a runaway report.

That report alerts the police that a youth should not be anywhere but home. In fact, the people that youth is staying with could potentially get into legal trouble. That’s called Harboring a Runaway.
What do you think has happened since you banned your son from seeing his girlfriend? Have things gotten worse/better? Is he allowed to see this friend and still live at home? What do you think it would take to get him to return home/be safe?

If you’re looking to make a runaway report and don’t want to involve the police, families have the option of calling the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). You can call them and file your child as a runaway at 1800-843-5678.

And if you’d like to explore the rest of your situation with us and see what options might be available, please call us at 18000RUNAWAY (786-2929). We are anonymous, confidential and available 24/7.

Best of luck.

[Unregistered]

legaladvice

the local police said they could not make him return home, due to him being seventeen and the fact we have a pest problem (Roaches) and they also said if we conintue to try to break them up, they can charge us with harassment, since he has been paying his own way for a year.

[Unregistered]

he also refuses to speak to us, saying by going through his phone, which he pays for, in full, is a violtion of his property, they said since he is 17 he can't be charged as a runaway since its a status offense. he also isnt planning on moving in with anyone, just away. he also agiasnt our knowledge since his bank account is his own, has been saving up for rent

[ccsmod10]

RE: legal advice

Hello, and thanks for getting back to us.

It sounds like the police are claiming he is legally allowed to make decisions for himself, in spite of the fact that he is not an adult. The fact that this is coming from the police, even though you know he is legally a minor, is confusing.

We are not attorneys, but this situation sounds legally complicated. In fact, it almost sounds like your son is attempting to establish himself as legally “emancipated” from his guardians.

Missouri does not have a formal statute for the emancipation of a minor, but a minor at least 16 years old may be considered emancipated when he/she meets the following conditions:

1) Married with the consent of parent or legal guardian
2) Has been declared emancipated by the court
3) Is on active duty in the armed forces
4) Has written consent of emancipation from parent or legal guardian

One option you may want to consider is contacting a social service agency that has the ability to provide legal advice, in order to explore your rights. We have a database of resources that includes agencies with attorneys who donate their time.

If that option appeals to you, here are some numbers that may be helpful:

YOUTH SERVICES
Lawson: 816-296-3571
Poplar Bluff: 573-840-9540
Springfield: 417-895-6485
St. Louis: 314-340-6904

You do not have to be in the same city to call them, just somewhat nearby. That being said, we respect your right to determine your own fate, and contacting an attorney may not appeal to you.

If you want to continue this conversation, you have the option of calling us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929), any time. We are open 24 hours a day, every day.

We are glad you chose to contact us, and we wish you the best.

~NRS