17 year old runaway turning 18

[Guest]

I am currently 16 years old old & I will be turning 17 in August. I am already done with high school, and would like to move on with my life. Right now, I live in colorado and I am thinking about running away. Running away to florida. I want to runaway until I am 18. Because once I turn 18, I’m legally not a runaway anymore. If I were to runaway and not get caught, once I turn 18 will I be facing charges? What’s the outcome?

[ccsmod5]

Hi, there,
Thank you for reaching out. We aren’t legal experts but we can share some general information. Generally speaking, you need to be 18 to leave home without parental consent. So at this point, you would technically need your parents’ permission to live elsewhere. That being said, it’s possible that your local police would not bother to pursue a 17 year old runaway even if your parents decide to file a runaway report. It’s also possible that they wouldn’t pursue you across state lines. (We should also note that if your parents don’t know a specific address to find you, it’s possible that you could just “fly under the radar” until you turn 1. To find out more information on your local police protocol, you can call your non-emergency police line and ask hypothetically. If you’re uncomfortable doing that, you’re also welcome to give us a call and we can call out together. Regarding your question about facing charges…generally speaking, running away is usually not considered a crime regardless of your age. Once you are a legal adult (in most states, this is 1, it should not be an issue.
Thank you again for reaching out. We hope this was helpful and we encourage you to reach out by phone if you need additional resources or need help figuring out your options. Our number is 1-800-786-2929 and our lines are always open. If you have a moment, we'd appreciate your feedback of our crisis services at the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

Stay safe!

[Guest]

My daughter is less than 3 months from being 18, she went to a friend's house last Friday and now she refuses to come home, answer her phone to me or text. I went there today and she came to door and walked away. What can I do

[ccsmod7]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. That sounds like a challenging and frustrating situation. Sounds like you’re trying to do what you can to reach out to your daughter. As you may know, most states have 18 years as the age of majority, where young adults become independent and can determine their own living arrangements, if they choose to do so.

If you’re interested, you can call your local police department to see if they would be inclined to take any action to return your daughter. They may choose not to address this situation as your daughter is very close to being 18. However, they could possibly return her home if they do consider her a runaway.

If you’d like to talk further about your situation, please do not hesitate to call NRS at 1-800-786-0394). We are here 24/7 and speak to both parents and young adults about what they’re facing and provide referral resources, where appropriate.

Thanks again for reaching out,

NRS

[Guest]

I'm 18 and I graduated, and I was planning on moving in with my high school sweetheart, but my parents don't like the person, am I eligible to do so?

[Guest]

I'm 18 and graduated, I want to move in with my high school sweetheart but I don't know if I'll get in trouble or not? Can you give me some helpful information?

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline.We are not legal experts, but generally speaking once you are 18 you are considered a legal adult and would be able to live somewhere other than home. If you want to make sure the legal age of adulthood is 18 in your state and look at what your other rights are, you can double check at https://sexetc.org/action-center/sex-in-the-states/.

Give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 if you have any other questions. We are 24/7 and always here to listen and support.

NRS

[Guest]

Hey im 17. On doc and in placement. If i run what charges can get pressed. I turn 18 in 4 months and DOC doesnt have reason to hold me. I have no charges. Help??

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us to help you decide about this situation. It sounds like you’re going through a lot where you're placed and are thinking of leaving. This is surely a difficult time for you, and we’re sure you’ve been enduring a lot. Hopefully we can help.

We’re not legal experts, so what we tell you may not apply in your community, even if it applies in most of the U.S. If you leave your placement without their permission, you could have a runaway report filed on you Usually, if a runaway report is filed on a youth, the police are authorized to search for the youth and return them home. In most parts of the U.S., running away is not illegal and won’t result in a youth getting arrested or fined. However, because you are currently in a DOC placement, this may not be the case for you. We're not sure what legal penalties may apply to you if you leave because we're not lawyers. Adults who you stay with could be charged for harboring a runaway, which is a very rare charge, but a charge you may want to know about. Penalties for this charge vary widely across the U.S. You may want to reach out to your caseworker to ask these questions, or your non-emergency police.

Hopefully this helped. Thanks so much for reaching out to us. If you have any questions or want to talk more, please call us at 1-800-786-2929.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi my girlfriend is 17 turning 18 Dec if she runs now till she's 18 is she free once she turns 18? Once she's a adult she's free?

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS!

We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. Thanks for reaching out to us for help on behalf of your girlfriend. You’re being a great support.

We’re not legal experts, so the best way to get a correct answer would be to call her local police station and ask them these questions hypothetically. Once she turns 18, she can decide where she wants to live, and not be forced to return home. If her parents decide to make a runaway report while she’s 17, that runaway report would disappear once she turns 18. It may be changed to a missing person report, but all she would have to do is go to a police station to cancel the report. She wouldn’t get in trouble with the police once she turns 18.

Our safeline is open 24/7. We also have a chatting service via our website, unfortunately, it is not always open. The best way to contact us would be to call in and talk with our trained liners.

Be well, NRS

[Guest]

I am 17 years of age and my birthday is the first of October, I do not get along with my mom at all, and my dad isnt in the picture. I live in utah and want to move out. I heard there is a law where if you are within 50 days of you turning 18 you can move out and not be as a runaway. my mom is mentally abusive and makes me not want to be at the house. She doesnt let me do anything besides sit at home all day besides when i go to work. i have a full time job and can earn money. I have a place where i can stay if im able to move out before im 18. please help me with what my options are on getting out of this house.

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you're going through a lot at home and we would love to help. Firstly, we want to tell you that you don't deserve to be mentally abused by your parent. Secondly, we want to let you know that we're not legal experts, and we've never heard of this 50 day law that you're talking about. Usually runaway youth are just returned home to parents, and are not arrested or formally charged with any offense. Some police departments do not investigate runaway reports made on 17 year old youth, as well.

Hopefully this helped,
NRS

[Guest]

I live in New York I ran away from home about 2 yrs ago cause my dad and his wife would beat me and I wasn't allowed to have friends or see my mom so I ran away they stop looking for me until I got upset and ran away from my friends house and that's when they found out I had a warrant for running away and now they won't leave me alone I'm not going back and I turn 18 in two months can you help me I DONT KNOW IF I SHOULD CALL THE DET AND TELL HIM I'm fine and have him drop my warrant or run again till I'm 18

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes courage to seek help. We are very sorry to hear that your dad and his wife use to beat you. Abuse is never okay and you don't deserve to be treated that way. We aren't legal experts so we can only provide you with basic information. Running away is not illegal, it's what's known as a status offense which means that it's something you aren't supposed to do because you are a minor. Your family may have a runaway report out on you not a warrant. However,you could contact the Det and tell him that you are safe maybe he will drop the warrant. We hope that this information helps, please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat if you have any questions.

[Guest]

So im about to be 18 in 4 months. If i run away and dont get caught till im 18 can i go to jail for running away.....

[ccsmod5]

Hi, there,

Thank you for reaching out. We aren't legal experts, but in most states you would not go to jail for running away at any age. Once you are 18, there's no reason you should be put in jail for running away.

Thanks,

NRS

[Guest]

I was put into a group home for no reason an ran away an i turn 18 in 60 somethin days an cant handle a group home an im in a safe place with everthing i need will i get into trouble if i get caught working or what could happen to me after my birthday an im of legal age what couls the consequnces be if i make it intill im 18 an then decide to let them to no were im at

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

It sounds like you’re in a frustrating situation with being relocated to a group home even though you ar living somewhere you want to live.

Unfortunately, we are not legal experts, but we can talk about some possibilities. First of all, in most states, 18 is the age of majority, which means you can live on your own. Before you turn 18, if you are legally supposed to be at a group home, and you are found by authorities such as local law enforcement, they could relocate you to the group home.

However, this all depends on the local law enforcement. Many police departments have a policy not to waste resources relocating youth who are close to turning 18. Given that you’re so close and you’re living in a safe place, they may choose not to relocate you.

If you’re concerned about this, you could call your local police department and ask them what their stance is on this. You can also call us and we can call them on your behalf if you’d prefer.

If you have any other questions, or want to conference call with police or other resources, or you just want to talk, we’re here 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY or online at 1800runaway.org.

[Guest]

So I'm almost 17, I turn 17 in a little over a month. My grandma is really mean and keeps threatening saying she's gonna put me away or she tells my sister or my grandpa that she just wants me to leave and she gives me permission but when I try to leave she doesn't let me. If I leave with my grandpa and wait till I'm 18 till anyone knows. Can I get in trouble or be called a runaway? if the police catch me will they take me? Or ask me why im there and if I have a good reason could I stay? help.

[ccsmod4]

Reply:So I'm almost 17, I turn 17

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS).

We appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.
As of right now you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options.


While we are not experts on the law, someone under 18 that leaves home, the parent/guardian may file them as a runaway and they may be returned home. Also, those that a reported runaway stays with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. Anyone found to be assisting or aiding someone to run away may also find themselves at risk legally. For more specifics on the law, you might consider contacting the local non-emergency number for the police. You might also look for a legal aid center in the area. They may be able to answer any legal questions on the subject.


We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 17, I turn 18 in January... I graduated high school a year early.. (my mother said I can be the adult I wanted to be the day of graduation)
It’s a really long story, my mother and I haven’t been seeing eye to eye. She is always yelling at me making it seem like when she’s doing bad in life it’s all MY fault... I asked to go to a family event with my boyfriend (been with for a year and 3 months) that is coming up that weekend... well my mom said I can’t go because I didn’t come home on time last time I was with them. (Went to my boyfriends sister babyshower and was with there family didn’t rush them after all it’s there family supper thinking she wouldn’t care if I ate with there whole family.) but 3 months after sea still saying things like I don’t listen even tho inconvenient ******** happens everyday. I never ever stand up to my mom (SHE SCARES ME) when we fight but I was this time.. I remind her I’m a 17 year old being treated like a 5 year old...I told her how I felt with tears down my face I’ve been feeling this way for awhile with my mom.. she did tell me to go LEAVE! To pack my ******** and go. As I’m doing that she always try’s to be nice after I try to argue with her... she’s always threatening to give my rights to DHS or send me to a boys and girls home... and more hurtful things I’m a mess, balling. Mom don’t care she still screaming.. it’s been a about a week and 5 days!! I ran away! I am safe but is it going to be safe to get a job? Can they do an amber alert? Will I get into any trouble if caught?! If caught by cops- If i refuse to go back home, what will they do? Big thing is my moms my best friend. I know im hurting her but she told me to leave if I didn’t want to be there. It’s not that I don’t want to but it’s the fact I want to be treated like an adult not treated like a little kids still!!

if not caught on the run... how do I go about talking with my mother about all this to I haven’t talked to her since I left staying offline but I let some people know I’m fine like my aunt that fostered me so she can at least say she had heard from me and they don’t think I’m dead or something..

PLEASE ANSWER ASAP! If you can give me advice on how I should talk with my mom After all this happening between us, PLEASE I love her but the way she treats me it just hurts me... and I don’t even know where to start if I were to talk with my mom...

[ccsmod7]

Hi, thank you so much for reaching out to us here at that National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a scary and frustrating situation and reaching out to us takes a lot of bravery. We care about you and you sound like you are going through a lot. We are going to talk about a few things and if you want to talk further don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us at 1800runaway.org.

It sounds like you are in a tough situation with your mom and truly care about her but she has been saying and doing some hurtful things which is not okay. You do not deserve that and it sounds like you are trying your hardest to have a relationship with her that is not harmful to you. From what you shared, it sounds like you are not at home right now so your mom may file something called a runaway report. This just entails her calling the non-emergency police and letting them know you have left home and any information she can provide about where you are. We aren’t legal experts but, leaving home is not illegal per say but a status offense like breaking curfew. This would mean you would just be brought back home and not arrested (unless you are on probation or have habitually ran away which may change things depending on the police department). If you do refuse to go home the police may contact a Child Protective Services to see why you do not want to return home or may try to bring you home if you feel safe at home and just do not want to return. It truly depends on the police department and if you can call us we can call out to the police department in your area and ask any questions you have on your behalf. As for the amber alert, that would not be something that would occur as you have left home and have not been taken or forced to go anywhere, if your mom makes a runaway report you would be put into a database of people who have also ran away.
If you want we can also look into services for you and your mom like counselling or therapy if you believe that might help the situation. Bringing in a third party to mediate communication may help and that third party doesn’t have to be an agency like counselling. You can think about bringing in a friend/family member/trusted adult like a teacher to help your mom see how what she says and does affects you. We are also always here if you want to look into conference calling with your mom through us. We can help facilitate a positive call between your mom and yourself to try to compromise and try to open up communication. We are here 24/7 if you want to explore that further too.

We are really glad you reached out. We are always here for you and would love to talk more if you can contact us again. We are here for you 24/7 so don’t hesitate giving us a call or chatting. Hope to hear from you soon!

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

Umm i dont know were to start im 17 but ill be 18 in 2 months im an early graduate.I sometimes feel like im trapped and im all alone im just stressed to the point were all i wanna do is get away i just need time to myself i was wondering if i happened to runaway and my mother put out a missing report is there anythng they could do being that ik about to be 18 but already and early graduate and i stay in raleigh north carolina

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to get into contact with us here at the National Runaway Safeline on our public forum, we are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. We do want to say that it must be very hard for you to have to go through all of this. It sounds like a very stressful situation for you at home. Hopefully by supporting you there are other that are reading through this thread that can relate can feel helped as well. We found a response that was already written on this public form that might give you some information.

QUOTE: “As you have probably read in other threads, the laws on that specific subject of just leaving home and/or running away vary from state to state. Now we aren’t legal experts, but what generally what typically happens in each state is if you are below the legal age of majority (18 in most states except Alabama and Nebraska [19 or upon marriage], and Mississippi [21]), your parents would be able to make a runaway report in the event that you do run away. Since it’s only considered a statues offense and not a crime to run away, the only thing that would happen is that the police will pick you up and bring you back home. It can be a little tricky at the age of 17, but there are some cases in which a police officer won't take a runaway report for someone that is 17. Especially if there are a little closer to turning 18 years old, along with having already graduated high school. This is not the case all the time of course, but it is something that we have heard of happening before. But something to keep in mind is that though a police officer doesn't take a report it doesn't make it legal for minors to leave home before turning 18; which is the legal age of majority in most states. Like stated above it might not be actively search for a 17 year old. The only way to know for sure of that would be to reach out to your local non-emergency police and asking them hypothetical questions about leaving home or the state as a 17 year old and what would could happen at that point.”

Only you know yourself when it’s time to leave home due to it being an unsafe situation and it sounds like you might some specific questions that you want to ask us or maybe find a place to vent about what you are feeling right now. It’s hard to talk to just anyone one about what has been going on. Please rest assured that we are completing confidential. So anything that you share with us will stay between us. We don’t ask for any identifying information, unless you want to report any abuse. We certainly want to help you.