17 year old runaway turning 18

[ccsmod0]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
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 would like to look into further emotional support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
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

Please help me out:

Okay so I am 16 years old and I wanna run away at 17 because i dont wanna live where i am, and I would feel safer if I was with my boyfriend and hes 17 right now, and I just want to be free with him, so I wanted to know what would happen if I ran away from home at 17? Would I get in ANY legal trouble at all? Would the police force me to go back home?

[ccsmod0]

Hey there,

Once you are 18 you are more than likely considered a legal adult which means that you can move out if you want to and you won’t be considered a runaway. As a legal adult, you have a right to make your own decisions about where you live. We can help you make a plan for how to deal with your situation and help you find resources to land on your feet. Having a plan for where you will live and how you will survive once you move out can be very helpful. Moving can be a huge step, and you don’t have to be alone. Some steps you can take towards independence might be to find employment if you don’t have an income, or to save up money for moving expenses. It can also be helpful to research rents in your area, find a roommate, or make a budget. Another thing you might want to consider is what kinds of things you depend on your parents for currently such as tuition expenses for school, or health insurance, and whether they would continue to provide those things after you leave. There may be social service agencies in your area that can help meet some of these needs, such as Transitional Living Programs, a kind of shelter where young adults can live and get services to help them transition to independent living. We are here to listen and help however we can.

Best of luck,
NRS

Hi I’m 17 planning on running away I’ll be 18 in 6 months but my question is will I get in trouble for it still even after I’m 18

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at NRS. While we are not legal experts, we can speak generally on this. Your parents or your current legal guardians are legally responsible for you and are able to control where you live until you become a legal adult. In most states, you are considered a legal adult once you turn 18 . This means you would be able to leave home and have the legal freedom to choose where you live.

There are some exceptions to this. The age of majority, or when you are no longer considered a minor, is different in a few states. The age of majority in Alabama and Nebraska is 19 and 21 in Mississippi. If you live in one of these states then you could still be considered a runaway even at 18.

The other exception is if you are currently on probation or parole. If you have an ankle monitor, it could mean you have some involvement with the court system. If this is the case then you may not be able to leave as soon as you turn 18 and there could be legal consequences if you do. It could be helpful to speak with a probation officer or caseworker if there is one assigned to you/your family. If you contact us directly by phone or live chat we can also connect you with legal aid in your area. A lawyer would better be able to answer your questions in this situation.

We are available 24/7 for immediate support and resource referral by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or through live chat services at 1800runaway.org. Please do not hesitate to reach out again if you would like to talk more about your situation.

Good luck,
NRS

I’m turning 18 this month and I was charged as a runaway last month. I have an ankle monitor on my ankle. When I turn 18 next month will I be able to move out still?

[ccsmod2]

It sounds like you are thinking about harming yourself or ending your life. It takes a lot of strength to reach out for help, and we are so glad that you did. Your life has worth and our top priority is your safety. If you feel this is an emergency you could consider calling 911 for emergency assistance. We are here to listen and support you in any way that we can, and we can help you find resources that can help you cope with these feelings. You do not have to face this alone, and there is so much help out there for you. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, the National Suicide Hotline could be a good resource for you. You can check them out at www.youmatter.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, or you can call 1-800-273-8255 for help and support any time. You can also call us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) if you need to talk.

Heh, I want to run away to die and I am 9... TwT

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear that your mother is not treating you with the respect and kindness that you deserve as a human being. It makes sense that you want to leave an environment that does not make you feel safe or loved.

While we are not legal experts, we do have a great deal of experience working with runaways. It is not illegal to run away. Your parent/guardian could file a runaway report on you but this would NOT mean that you would get arrested or charged with anything. It typically does mean that the police could return you home if they encountered you and that would be that. Some police can be more understanding about what is going on at your home. In our experience, police will oftentimes return the youth back to their guardian almost no matter what. Police typically do not actively search for a runaway youth. However, they will go where the parent/guardian directs them if they know where you are staying. Additionally, police can sometimes be more lenient about runaway situations the closer you are to 18. You can attempt to calmly, respectfully, and persistently deny them consent to touch you or take you anywhere, and they may give up on trying to return you home. They also may not, in which case you should comply with what they tell you to do for your safety.

If the legal age of majority in your state is 18, then once you turn 18 you will have the right to live where you please. The police should not be able to force you to return home or go anywhere unless you are in a situation where your parents may have extended custody over you.

If you want to talk more about what is going on and what options you may have, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

I am 17 and will be turning 18 in 2 months if i was to run away right now because things have gotten out of control she has threatened to slap me and have been nothing but disrespectful if i was to just leave right now, when i turn 18 will there be any consequences or at 18 they drop the case and leave me be? If it was to be filled at a runaway

[ccsmod4]

Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We are not legal experts and therefore are unable to offer any information on your probation violation.
You might consider contacting the probation officer or department assigned to your case for more information about the probation laws in your state.
Hours are most likely normal business hours 9am-to 5pm.
You can usually find the non-emergency number online.

NRS is here to listen and here to help.
We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

Take care,
NRS

Hi I’m 17 and 8 months and I’m on parole and ran away, and it’s considered a VIOLATION OF PAROLE. What will happen if I TURN MY SELF AFTER MY 18th birthday and few months can I get charged? Hi I’m 17 and 8 months and I’m ON PAROLE NOT PROBATION and live in Texas. Say I was on the run and didn’t turn myself in after, my 18th birthday or when hit 19 can I be charged? And will I have to do time?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
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

Help
ill be 18 in about 39 days and I can’t take my mother’s verbal and emotional abuse any longer,she depresses me and makes me feel worthless.i have a neighbor I can go to but I’m worried what might happen to them if I go there,I live in WA

[ccsmod13]

Hello,

This is a really great question and we are glad you reached out to NRS. We are not legal experts, but generally speaking once an individual turns 18 they are considered a legal adult. This means that at 18 you would no longer be considered a runaway and have the legal freedom to choose where you want to live. However, if you come into contact with law enforcement before your 18th birthday, they might return you home.

We are available 24/7 to listen and help. If you would like to talk more about your situation you can call (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us anytime We truly want to be a support for you, so do not hesitate to reach out again if you have any other questions or concerns.

Be safe,
NRS