17 year old runaway turning 18

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Re: 17 year old runaway turning 18

Hi There,

We are glad you reached out today. It sounds like you are in a really tough situation with your birth mom, dad, and step mom and things are making you unhappy. It is reasonable you would want to be in an environment where things weren’t so difficult and you could be happy. While we are not legal experts we can speak generally on your questions. Generally in the United States you do have to be 18 to leave home without your legal guardian’s permission. If your legal guardian chooses to file a runaway report and the police were to pick you up they would return you to your legal guardian. Running away is a status offence meaning it is illegal to do because of your age but youth are generally not arrested or charged for running away. One thing to keep in mind is whoever you’re staying with could be charged with harboring a runaway which is a misdemeanor offence. It is good you are gathering information before deciding to leave or not, and we are here to support you in whatever decision you make. If you would like to talk more in depth about your situation we are available to talk 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY where you can remain confidential.

Best,
~NRS

Re: 17 year old runaway turning 18

I need some help ! I currently live in indiana with my birth mom , i just moved here from kentucky with my dad and step mom . I am very unhappy here . The environment isnt soemthing i want to be in . I am currently 17 years old , and i will be 18 in about a year , if i ran away , or just left the house , when i turn 18 , and they catch me , could i get into trouble for running when i was a minor
?

[ccsmod6]

Re: being a runaway will it affect me getting a job at 18

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It sounds like you made the decision to leave home because of abuse. We're sorry you were mistreated like that. You're now wondering if being a runaway would affect you when you're 18. We are not legal experts, but we have learned that generally a runaway report is no longer valid when someone turns 18. This depends on your city and state. And it may benefit to call out to your local police to verify that the report becomes void- no longer in effect. If you need any help with resources or shelters, please consider calling our 24/7 crisis line.

We're here to listen and to help.

Be safe and good luck,

NRS

being a runaway will it affect me getting a job at 18

I was told to leave and got tired of the verbal abuse and was wondering now thay I'm a runaway when I turn 18 will it make it harder for me to get jobs since it's on my record

[ccsmod0]

Re: 17 year old runaway turning 18

Thank you for posting.
We are glad that you have decided to write to us to try and figure out what could happen if you decide to leave home without your guardian’s permission. Well we want you to know that we are not in any way affiliated with the police but to our knowledge there is not a minimum amount of time that has to go by before a runaway report can be made. One can be filed as soon as they are noticed missing.
You questioned if you would be stopped at the airport if you try and go to Hawaii. There is a strong possibility that you will be stopped because you are traveling underage and without a custodial guardian. Since running away is not a crime the only thing that would happen to you is that you would be detained you until the authorities arrive to take you back home. You would not get a record or be charged with anything.
As mentioned before we are not associated with the police and we are not legal experts in any way. If you were to leave and go to be with your boyfriend there is a chance that he could be charged with harboring a runaway. Since he is military that charge might have a different name and punishment that are more severe.
If you would like more definitive answers for these questions please give us a call and we can make an anonymous call to your local non-emergency police to find out.
We hope to hear from you soon.
1-800-RUNAWAY

how much time do I have?

How long do I have to be gone from home for my guardian to file a missing child/ runaway report? I'm planning on flying to Hawaii where my bf (20 of age) on the 17th and I turn 18 on the 18th. Will I be stopped at the airport or something like that?
My bf is also military personel, will I get him into any kind of trouble?
Also, will I have a record of the runaway? As in, will it be hard for me to get a job in the future?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I'm 16 about to be 17 Nov 21

Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

The living situation you describe to us in your post sounds like you have been living under what must feel like a nightmare. You didn’t and do not now deserve any of it. We understand how living under these conditions would have you considering changing your living situation.
You and your child deserve a safe place to live.
Have you given consideration to asking for help from Child Protective Services?
This might also be an option when considering the safety of you and your child.

As to what might happen if you were to leave your father’s home to go live with your boyfriend we’re afraid it’s not something we can answer directly. It might help us to know exactly what your concerns are about leaving. We would like to hear more about your idea to move in with your boyfriend and his family. We are open to listening to your plan and what your thoughts as well as his and his family’s thoughts are on you coming to live with them.

Give NRS a call at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or live chat with us at www.1800Runaway.org
We are here to listen and here to help.

We hope to hear back from you soon.

Take Care,
NRS

I'm 16 about to be 17 Nov 21 I am a mom to a 7 month old baby girl my boyfriend and his family have been by my side through it all they love my daughter my mom kicked me out she wouldn't really pay attention to us anyways she was in it for the child support she would always leave me and my boyfriend home so her and her boyfriend can go out to eat and the movies and stuff she treats my boyfriend like ******** she called him a Lil ********** in front of his parents I'm currently living with my dad he has me my Lil sisters and my brother all living in one room and he's always drinking hes admitted to me on selling drugs in this apartment he talks to my uncle who raped me when I was a Lil girl his family is always asking me when my daughter is going to meet him I want to live with my boyfriend and his family I have a room there ewhen I go they don't mind me living there what happens if I do stay there or run away to Utah ?

[ccsmod9]

Re: 16 on probation

Thank you very much for writing us at the National Runaway Safeline. We are not legal experts. However, we can share with you what we know based on any resources that we find. Another website outlines what may happen if a youth runs away while on probation. Here is the link:
https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/i...ti-616024.html.

It appears that this lawyer was saying that after 18, crimes may be charged as an adult, and that probation can follow a youth. Here is another article where lawyers weigh in: https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/i...u-1727895.html. It sounds like you may need to talk to a lawyer or someone who works with legal matters. Use this link to search for legal aid near you:

http://www.lawhelp.org/find-help/.

If you would like more in-depth support and/or more specific resources, please feel free to contact us. Our information is below.

Best,
NRS

16 on probation

Hi I'm 16 years old and I'm on probation I ran away and I only had a month left once I turn 18 will probation still fallow me

[ccsmod15]

Re: 17 year old runaway turning 18

Hi there,
Thank you so much for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear that your uncle abuses you. No one deserves to be abused in any way. And, sorry to hear that your mom doesn’t do anything about it. That could be as hurtful (emotionally) as the physical hurt. And, again, no one deserves that. We’re here to support you in any way that we can.
While we are not legal experts here at NRS, we can provide some general information. If you were to leave home while a minor, your parents have the option of filing a runaway report. When a person becomes an adult and a runaway report is on file, it sometimes turns into a missing persons report. Once someone is no longer a minor, they can contact the police where the report is on file and let them know that they are okay and not missing and the report can be closed.
Please know that we are here to listen and here to help. You are welcome to reach out any time if you have other questions or would like to speak in more detail about your situation either by phone (800) RUNAWAY (786 2929) or you can chat with us through our website, which is open daily.

Stay safe,
NRS

Hi..I'm 17 and I hate being hit an abused by my uncle an my mom doesn't care cause she keeps letting him i wanna runaway from home and never come back when I turn 18 I just want to go on with my life I never want to look back I just want to know if I would be able to get me an apartment when I'm 18 even tho I'm a runaway and still get work an that I can do for myself could you help me answer that

[ccsmod6]

Re: 18 and runaway out of state

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It sounds like you’re worried about your father calling the police on you for leaving home at 18. We are not experts on the law, but it seems 18 is the age of majority in Missouri which means that you are considered your own legal guardian. Unless there is paperwork stating otherwise- such as someone else being your legal guardian, it does not seem to be illegal or that police would try to take you home. Your father could possibly try to file you as a missing adult if there is concern for your safety or if he hasn’t heard from you.

If you wanted to chat more or obtain any other information or resources such as shelter/housing, counseling, or legal aid please reach out soon by phone or chat.

Take care and be safe,

NRS

18 and runaway out of state

Hey I am 18 currently living with my father and step mother in missouri. I am planning on moving in with my mother in Oregon in a month I was just wondering if this is illegal or not and if my father can do anything involving the system or police to bring me back. I plan on leaving early in the morning also

[ccsmod4]

Reply: 17yr old runaway turning 18

Hello,
Thanks for posting to NRS.
Since you are so close to turning 18 is there any way you might consider staying in your parents home until your 18th birthday in a few days?
You might consider contacting the local police department to get policy and procedures concerning the runaway laws in your area. You can usually get this information by calling the non- emergency number of the police department. In a situation such as yours the police could decide not to pursue a runaway report because you are close to turning 18.
You are welcome to call 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) and we can contact the police on your behalf and look into the matter with you on the line.
How does that sound?
We hope to hear from you.
Take Care,
NRS