17 year old runaway turning 18

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.

[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.

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

[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

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.....

[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.

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

[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

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.

[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

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?

[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

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??

[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

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?