Leaving/Running Away at 17 (almost 18)

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what you're going through. It sounds like a difficult spot to be in. We'd like to help out in any way we can but would need a little more information about your situation so we can work with you to help you figure out what you'd like to do, whether that's leave now or stick it out till you're 18. Please know we support you but will never tell you what to do. The best way we can help would be for you to call our 24 hour confidential hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). You can also chat with us via the chat feature on our website: www.1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon!

Stay safe,
National Runaway Safeline

I live in Washington state, it is exactly two months before I am 18, may I leave my home (without parental permission) now due to fear of bing imprisoned when I'm 18? I am second oldest, I have many places to go live outside of this house. I've been kicked out before, and two month wait is getting to be too difficult.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are sorry to hear you are not happy at the group home you are at. Fortunately, you will be 18 in about a week. When you turn 18 you will no longer be considered a minor and, unless there are some unusual circumstances, you should be able to leave without needing permission. It sounds like you are considering leaving before then, however.

We never tell anyone what to do, but you may want to consider the following options:

1) Just wait it out. A week is not a long amount of time and this would likely be the safest option for you.

2) Leave, but be prepared for the group home to file a runaway report on you. Since you are so close to turning 18 your group home either may not make a report and/or the police may not actively look for you. But we really can't say what exactly will happen.

3) Ask permission from your caseworker or other staff to leave the program early.

Perhaps there are other options for you as well. We'd like to help in whatever way we can but need more information from you to see how we can assist. The best way we can help would be for you to call our 24 hour confidential hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us via the chat feature on our website: www.1800runaway.org. When you contact us we can talk about what's going on, what your next best options are, and perhaps look into other resources that may help (shelters, transitional living programs, counseling, etc.). We hope to hear from you soon!

Stay safe,
NRS

I turn 18 in 8 days and I’m currently living in a group home where I’m not happy! I told them that I’m keeping my phone till I age out, and now they are threatening taking my visits away from my boyfriend/best friend and I’m honestly contemplating on running away. I have no family to rely on and no support system established other then my boyfriend. What should I do?

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,

Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a really difficult time right now, and we want you to know that you are not alone.
We are not legal experts but we do have some information on what could possibly happen. In Ca the age of consent is 18 years old, because you are so close to being 18 it may be possible your boyfriend could not be charged with anything. You could always talk to your school counselor about what is going on and they may be able to help with resources.
We know you mentioned leaving home, it is possible you could be returned home if you leave before 18. If you do wait until you are 18, in CA you would legally be able to leave home without permission at 18 years old. It is understandable to feel depressed given your situation. You may want to consult with a mental health professional to help you feel better and to make sure you are keeping the baby healthy as well by eating.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore more options, please give us a call or chat with us. We are available 24/7 to support you and listen. Best of luck!

im past 17 1/2 and will be 18 in 2 months exactly and my boyfriend is currently 18 he is only 6 months older than me. I got pregnant recently and my parents didn't take it lightly and they took my phone and everything to not have any contact with him so i'm writing this with my school computer. I spoke to my parents about leaving to live with my boyfriend but they told me i'm not allowed to leave till i'm 18 and if i try to leave they would try to put him in jail for me being pregnant and being with him. I don't want to be forced to come back home. They just want to use anything against him and keep threatening him to me to scare me about leaving. Its been about a week and i cant anymore I've been becoming depressed and don't want to eat much and feel like i can go crazy if i wait 2 months i have nothing to call with and school computer blocks almost everything but i want to know what they can do so i hope you can help because i have nothing to call with. please get back to me ASAP i live in compton ca

[ccsmod15]

Hi there!
Thank you so much for reaching out to us at NRS today. We know it can be very difficult and take a lot of courage to do so. We are so sorry to hear that you have a difficult relationship with your parents.
You mentioned you are urgently trying to leave home. Like you said, if your parents call the police and file a runaway report, the police may come and find you. For us to reach out to the local police for you, you would have to reach out to us over livechat or over the phone. Also, you can call out to the local police’s non-emergency number confidentially and they will answer any questions you have. In general, many times if the police are not able to find you in any initial places your parents tell them to look, they will not continue to keep looking. It is great to hear that you are feeling stable and have been preparing to be living on your own.
Please feel free to reach out over livechat or call if you would like to help you call out to the police.
Best of luck and stay strong,
NRS

Hello, I turn 18 in just over 3 months. 96 days to be precise. I am desperate to leave my parents house. We have a terrible relationship which keeps getting worse. They took the door off my room, and cut off my contact to everyone I care about. They said they would not stop me, but would call me in as a runaway. Could you possibly ask the police department if they would go after someone my age? I have a steady job, and a place to live. I am ready to be on my own. Ive been preparing for the last five years. I have my own vehicle, pay for my own insurance, so my own taxes, handle my own schooling. Please, any help/information you could find would be amazing. THIS IS URGENT.

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,

What your describing sounds similar to an Alternative Living Arrangement (ALA). Your parents can choose to allow you to live somewhere with others temporarily. Since it is with their permission there is no issue with you staying with your boyfriend. It may be helpful to get any decisions or agreements written on paper and signed. It might not keep you from being taken to your parents’ home if they change their mind but it might help! We hope this helps, feel free to reach out with any other questions and/or concerns.

Stay safe,
NRS

I am 16 years old and I’ve had a lot of problems with my family and they have given me permission to move in with my 18 year old boyfriend and his parents and I have been for almost a year now. We are deciding to get an apartment, can I live with him on our own at my age and his if my parents still allow it?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for for taking the time to contact us here at NRS. It sounds like there is a lot that you are faced with at home and you are thinking that leaving home is your best option. We are not legal experts but we can speak generally on runaway laws. 18 is usually the age you are able to leave home without permission. If you leave before turning 18 your parents or guardians have the option to report you as a runaway to the police. Running away isn't necessarily illegal and you would not be arrested, but it is a status offense. This means that police can return you home if you are found.

We are here as a support for you during this challenging situation. Our email and bulletin services are different in that we can only respond twice, so we can best support you by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or through live chat at 1800runaway.org. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you want to talk more about your situation or have additional questions.

Be safe,
NRS

I am 17 and turn 18 in May and need to leave. I am in California I’d like to go to Florida can I do that and legally get away with it

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for contacting us and reaching out with your question. There are some differences to how the legal situation is handled depending on what state you live in, and also your current living situation with your parents or guardians. Typically, the closer you are to 18, the higher your chance of being able to move out without facing legal consequences. However, in most places, your parents still have the right to file a police report and the police still have the legal responsibility to return you to your home when you are found. If you do leave, you won’t personally face any legal consequences - meaning your parents could bring you back, but you won’t get in legal trouble for running away.


It is important to remember that there are a lot of different reasons to leave a situation - some of them can involve feeling unsafe or being mistreated at home. If this is the case, we encourage you to talk to a trusted adult about what is going on, and see if they can help.


It can be very frustrating to be in your position, and reaching out for support might be a way to get closer to what you want and need. We hope you will consider calling (1-800-RUNAWAY) or using our chat service (www.1800runaway.org) if you’d like to talk about your situation any further. We wish you the best of luck!

Am I legally allowed to leave

[ccsmod15]

Hi there!
You definitely do not deserve to have your mom be emotionally abusive towards you. Because you are so close to 18 and with everything happening with Covid 19 it is hard to say how the police would handle it. You could always reach out to your local police anonymously and ask how they would handle it. If you feel uncomfortable doing that, you could always call out hotline and we could make the call with you!
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. You can always call us at 1800-RUNAWAY (786-2929. If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in.
Stay safe!
NRS