17 and I wanna run away

[Unregistered]

Im 17 yr old from Massachusetts, and wanna run away from home. My parents blame me for every bad thing that happens in the house. If my siblings do the same thing, they don't even yell at them. I get that they're younger than me, but when i was their age, I would still get yelled at, and my siblings don't get in trouble for anything, even if it bad. The hypocrosy and double standard for them is so gross and disgusting, it makes me want to throw up. My parents don't even believe I can get into college (Im a senior in hs), so I don't see why Im stuck in a household where no one believes in me, and where I get no respect.
If I runaway, will the po-po catch me? Then what do i do

[ccsmod15]

Re: 17 and I wanna run away

Hi, Thanks for reaching out to NRS! It sounds like you are going through a difficult time with your parents. It is a really good first step to reach out for help! We aren’t legal experts, but generally if you decide to leave home it is not illegal, but something you just cannot do if you a minor in your state. In general the age to legally be considered an adult is 18 and since you are under that age, there could be action taken by your parents. If they decide to file a runaway report with the police, if they find you, you most likely will be returned to your home. If you stay with someone, they run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. Police departments do react differently if a youth is close to turning 18, but cases vary. You can always contact your local non-emergency police to ask about their policy with this. You do not need to give them any information about yourself, you can just ask hypothetical questions about your situation. It sounds like your relationship with your parents is not the best. Some options you could explore could be family counseling or maybe talking to a school counselor about your situation. If you want to talk through these options, we are 24/7 and confidential on our online chat lines as well as over the phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY. If you want to talk and explore more options you are welcome to contact us. We hope to hear from you soon!
Best, NRS