17 almost 18... What are my rights in Pa

[Guest]

Hi, I have this friend that has a horrible home life. She will be 18 in just 3 months and honestly cant handle it anymore. She is blamed for her families mistakes, called names by her family members, and accused of many things. This has been going on for many many years and cps wont do anything but "try to work it out" which is making things worse. All she does is sit inside her room all day listening to them. Im afraid that if she doesnt leave soon, they will hurt her or she will hurt herself. She is a senior in hs with very good grades and does plan on graduating. Can she leave without telling them?

[ccsmod2]

18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once you are filed as a runaway can vary a lot from state to state and even city to city so we cannot predict exactly what would happen in your case. Generally speaking, if you encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, you will likely be returned home. However, in that case there may be services (family counseling, etc.) available to you as a youth in crisis/runaway but again, police procedures related to offering those services can be different based on your location or the details of your situation. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows you to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. One way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.