17 year old runaway turning 18

Hi, I am turning 17 soon, have a job, am a junior in high school, and have verbally abusive parents. Since I was young, I've always been made to do ridiculous, on the edge of illegal tasks. My parents have always told me I was ugly and lazy, as they did nothing. If I run away on my 17th birthday, what would, legally, happen if I returned on my 18th birthday? I've always been a "good girl" In school and have gotten in no trouble.

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Re: so many questions !!

Hello again,

It sounds like your friend has legal concerns which is understandable. Good for her for having a goal of becoming a cop when she is older. As we said before we are not legal experts; however, contacting a lawyer is certainly an option. She could also contact the detective on her case. We just can't say for certain though how the local police will react. Your friend is also welcome to reach out to us should she wish. Our Live Chat is open every day from 4:30 to 11:30pm CST and is available by visiting here: http://www.1800runaway.org. Or, there is always our 24 hour hotline, 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) which is available 24/7. We hope it works out for her and she is able to stay safe!

-NRS

RE: so many questions !!

Hi thank you for answering me . I talked to my friend and shes doubtful she wanted to be a cop so she kind of thinks what a police would do. She asked what if they trace they call or the chat and what if its not safe. Shesbeen thinking about hiring a lawyer because she says it sounds too easy just to call and say she not missing cause on the internet it says she has a detective on her case. She was wondering if maybe she could contact him and explain her situation to him?

[ccsmod9]

RE: so many questions !!

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at The National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like your friend is going through a tough time, and you sound very supportive. We appreciate you reaching out on her behalf. We're here to help in any way we can.

Unfortunately, we're not legal experts here at NRS. However, we can provide some general information on running away and turning 18. It sounds like your friend is now above the age of minority (which is usually under 18 in most states). At 18, she is no longer considered a runaway, and she may be able to call the police in her area and let them know that she is no longer "missing." Once 18, there are usually not any consequences for a runaway. Also at 18, she is no longer considered her parents' responsibility, and they probably cannot legally do anything to her or her boyfriend.

Do you think you or your friend would be willing to reach out to us to discuss this further? If so, you or she can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We're available on our Safeline 24/7. You can also chat with us by going to www.1800runaway.org and clicking the red live chat button. Chat is available from 4:30 to 11:30 pm Central time each evening. We hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks for contacting us,

NRS

so many questions !!

Hi how are you . Im posting because i have alot of questions !! I had a friend in 9th grade that ran away . Well everybody thought she was kidnapped and a bunch of stuff and her parents and the police where looking for her so she is a Missing Person but she has recently contacted me !! She says she ok and that she ran away cause she was doing bad things like getting in trouble at school and hanging out with Wrong people !! So she ran away scared that her parents where going to punish her , her parents where really strict and i know it sounds wrong but in truth all of her friends where scared of herparents . They never let her go out or even use her fone or talk to boys or come visit one of us ! :-/ so that was like 4-5 years ago ! She says she got a job and shes been working with false i.d and she has a b.f and says she really happy with him and that shes scared her mom will do something to him ! And shes also scared because theres rumors that her mom is still soo mad that she ran away and never contacted her and that she would do anything to put my friend in jail ! Is that possible ?? What are the consequences if my friend went back home ?!! We all still miss her and want her to come back but shes afraid that her mom will do something to her bf and her ! She says her bf is really nice hardworking n he cares for her but with her moms rage shes worriedthat her mom does something aganist the boy. Do you know what can happen to my friend and her bf ?

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Re: Runaway

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you've tried to runaway before and know some of the consequences.

We are not legal experts so we cannot give specifics about what could happen legally. Your best option would be to call your local police and ask them in general what happens to minors when they runaway.

If you need additional resources or would like to talk further about your situation, we are here 24/7. Our line is confidential and anonymous at 1 800 RUNAWAY. We also have chat available 4:30pm to 11:30pm CST through our website at 1800runaway.org.

Best,

NRS

Runaway

I'm 15 and considering to runaway. I do have a place to stay but I was wondering if I come back home at 18..will I be in any legal trouble? I have attempted to leave my house but was caught n bought back home with a warning and was put on curfew. Any trouble I get in until I'm 17 will get me 2 weeks of juvy

[ccsmod14]

Re: 17 mentally abused but mentally stable

Hey,

Thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you have been going through a lot. It’s got to be really hard to be feeling trapped the way that you do, and your feelings are understandable. It also sounds like you have really been exploring a lot of options and nothing seems to be working out, which has got to be frustrating. We are here to help you out as much as we can.

You mentioned thoughts about suicide. We want to first give you the number for National Suicide Hotline. They are available 24/7, just like us and can help you any time that you are having these thoughts. The number is 1 800 273 TALK (8225). It sounds like you have been having these thoughts pretty often, what helps you through them? Do you have any friends or family that you trust to talk to about this?

You said that you have run away before, because your parents told you to but then they call the police after you leave. This sounds like it has to be very frustrating. We want to let you know that it is actually illegal to kick a minor out of the house without providing them a safe alternative place to stay. If this situation were to occur again, one option you have is to either; 1.call your local police department and explain what has happened or 2. Call Child Protective Services to report the incident. The Child Abuse Reporting hotline for North Carolina is (800) 422 4453.
You mentioned wanting to get emancipated, but that your mom would testify that you are bipolar. We are not legal experts here, but we can direct you to a resource that can provide you more legal help regarding the possibility of emancipation if you would like it: Legal Aid of North Carolina (333) 725 9166, or (800) 660 6663.

You said that you are wondering if foster care is an option, but that you would want to stay local. We are not sure if this would be a possibility or not because Child Protective Services and/or the state are the people that make decisions regarding foster care.

If you would like to talk more specifically about your situation, work through options or simply just talk, we are here 24/7. Our line is confidential and anonymous at 1 800 RUNAWAY. It sounds like you have been dealing with a lot and we want to help you in any way that we can. We also have chat available 4:30pm to 11:30pm CST through our website at 1800runaway.org if you would prefer talking online.

We wish you the best of luck with everything, and hope to talk to you soon.

Stay safe,
NRS

[ccsmod14]

Re: hey

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us at NRS. It sounds like you are going through a difficult situation. We are not legal experts, however, each city varies regarding leaving home at age 17 vs. 18. You can always call your city's non-emergency police number and ask if you will get in trouble if you are leaving before age 18.

Usually, if a runaway report is made and they do not find you, you can call into the police department and identify yourself once you are the legal age of an adult just to let them know that you are not a missing person.

If you would like to explore other options you can always call us. We are here to help you in any way we can.
You can call us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY if you have more questions, concerns, or are simply in need of some support while you're exploring your options. Also, you can chat with us at [url]www.1800runaway.org during the hours of 4:30pm-11:30pm CST. We wish you the best of luck.

-NRS

hey

Can I get in trouble if I leave home? I am 17. I'll be 18 in March. I want to leave a month before my birthday. I live in alabama. I want to leave to go to California. I already have a place to go. But once I turn 18 or during that month I am gone. Will I get in trouble? If so, will I still get in trouble by the time I turn 18??

17 mentally abused but mentally unstable

Hi im 17 years old and live in NC . I have been diagnosed with bipolar , depression and anxiety. Ive been involved with the police many times for running away as a minor . Ive been to several councilors and an on medication. Im adopted from Guatemala . I live with my parents who are much older they're retired and just not full of life . They are very mentally abusive and my father drinks not a lot but enough that he gets very angry swears and fights with my mom over stupid things . Being around a drunk and an unstable mother who bullys me telling me im not going to amount to anything isnt healthy for me. Ive tried moving out to live with friends or even family member but because im bipolar none of my family will take me in and because my mother wont give consent for me to move out to live with a friend i feel very stuck. Ive tried to run away many times but my parents have called the police and theyve found me on the side of the road an have retuned me home. The only reasons ive run away is because my parents will argue with me and tell me to run away or to move out so i do exactly what they tell me but they call the cops and blame it on me being bipolar. I feel so trapped that many times ive tried to kill myself and have ended up in the hospital . I have many people who would let me live with them , i want a job but my parents wont let me work. I want to get emancipated but i was told by my mom i cant because im bipolar and theyd testify it as im bipolar and wont give me consent . I just want to move out for it would be best for both of us but it seems impossible . To me my only ways out right now are running away or suicide . I just want to live on my own get a job and take responsibility as my self during my senior year . Im wondering if foster care would be an option but i dont want to go back home and i want to stay local so i can finish my senior year off stress free in the school i am in now . Please help i feel so trapped

[ccsmod14]

Re: 17 and pregnant

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us. It sounds like you have been having a rough time lately with your parents. That has got to be a difficult thing to deal with.
We want to let you know that running away is not illegal, it is a status offense. This means that if your guardians make a runaway report with the local police department, and the police find you, they just bring you back home. We are not legal experts by any means, so if you need more legal information regarding your situation we can always find you legal resources locally that can help you further. Another option that you have is to call your local police department, the nonemergency line, and ask any questions that you have in a hypothetical way. Some people are not always comfortable with this option because it can be intimidating, which is why we offer conference calling here at National Runaway Safeline. If you were to call into our 24/7, anonymous and confidential hotline at 1 800 RUNAWAY (786 2929), then we could make the call with you so that you have us on the line to advocate on your behalf.
You shared with us that you are pregnant. Have you thought about if you were to leave, what you would do as far as food and care for yourself and your unborn child? We have a large database here at NRS, filled with various different resources all over the USA. It sounds like you are really thinking about leaving home and need a safe place to go. We want to let you know that you can call us any time, and we can try our best to find you a shelter that is close to you.
We do not tell youth what to do, because you know your situation better than we do. We just try our best to remind you of every option that you have, and make sure that you are safe in whatever you decide to do. There are a few questions that might be helpful to think about while deciding what your next move will be:
What else can I do to improve my home situation before I leave?
What would make me stay at home?
How will I survive?
Is running away safe?
Who can I count on to help me?
Am I being realistic?
Have I given this enough thought?
What are my other options?
If I end up in trouble, who will I call?
When I return home, what will happen?

If you would like to discuss your situation further, you can call us any time at 1 800 RUNAWAY, or join us on chat from the hours of 4:30pm to 11:30pm CST. We hope to hear from you soon.
Stay safe,
NRS

17 and pregnant

I am 17 turning 18 in 8 months. My parents are trying to send me back to jamaica even thou I am a greencard holder. Going back to jamaica means that me and my unborn child will suffer. I am planning to runaway to somewhere they can't find me. The only identification I have is my drivers permit. I am wondering what will happen when I leave and if I could get in serious Trouble with the law? Please help me ASAP.... I need to know this before tomorrow

[ccsmod14]

Re: Im 18 and want to leave home

Hi there,

Thank you so much for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you have been having trouble with your family and we are sorry to hear that you have been going through this difficult time. We are not legal experts here, so some of your questions we unfortunately cannot answer but we can try to provide you with as much information that we have regarding your situation.
In most states, the legal age of an adult is 18 but in some it differs by a few years. This website is a great one to reference regarding the age of minority in your state, https://sexetc.org/states/texas.
It sounds like you have a plan in place about leaving home. We do not give advice here at National Runaway Safeline, we just try our best to remind you of all your options and make sure that you are staying safe in whatever you decide to do. It sounds like your boyfriend has been giving you support through this and that is good to hear. It sounds like that would be a safe place for you to stay. Have you thought at all about what you would do if down the road this living situation no longer was working out?
It sounds like you are worried about what your parents might do regarding filing a report, which is an understandable concern. One option you always have is calling your local police department to ask any questions that you have in order to get the most accurate information regarding your specific location, which it sounds like you have already thought about doing. If you want to talk more about what has been going on, or more about the options that you have you can always join us on chat from 4:30pm to 11:30pm CST through our website, 1800runaway.org or call in any time to our 24/7, anonymous and confidential hotline at 1 800 RUNAWAY (786 2929).
We wish you luck with everything,
NRS

Im 18 and want to leave home

I'm leaving home soon and i have almost everything figured out. I'll be living with my boyfriend who's 21 (i'm 18 and will turn 19 this month). My family is very controlling and there are a lot of problems i'd rather not go into, they have my social security number and birth certificate locked and hidden, the only thing i have is my ID, but my bofriend told me that i can request my birth certificate and my security number. I know once my family knows i left (even if i leave a note or call them to tell them i wanted to leave) they're going to file a missing person report, so my question is: Should i go talk to the police and inform them i'm leaving and my family will probably file a missing person report? So that they know that they don't have to look for me since i'm leaving because i chose to. I live in texas, thankyou.