if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

[Guest]

Im planning on running away. and i know where i am going and i will be taken care of.
But all i was wondering was if i do run away. Can my mom call the cops on me...will they hunt me down and find where im staying at and force me to go home?
If so then i pretty much wont have any freedom at all till im 18.
Answer this question for me. Please

[ccsmod1]

Re: if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

Thanks for contacting us. It sounds like you’re thinking about running away and already have a plan. What is it that’s making you feel like you want to runaway? What have you tried to make your situation better? Is there anything you haven’t tried that you’re willing to try? Running away is a serious decision, so it’s good that you’re thinking through it. To answer your question, your mom does have the right to call the police and file a runaway report if you leave. This means that if you’re found, the police will return you back home. The police do not always actively search for runaways, but if your mom had an idea of where you were she could ask them to check it out and bring you home. From what you wrote you feel like if your mom can call the cops then you don’t have any freedom until you’re 18. It’s hard sometimes, being a teenager when you want to make your own decision but you still have to go by your parent’s rules. Unfortunately, one of the decisions you can’t make is where you live. There are only three legal ways to not have to live at home: 1) Parent’s Permission: If your mom gave you permission to live somewhere else (granted it’s a safe place). 2) Child Protective Services (CPS): If there’s abuse in the home and CPS determines it’s unsafe, they can place you elsewhere 3) Emancipation: This is a legal avenue that involves going to court to try to get emancipated from your parents, and become your own legal guardian (This option is not even available in every state. Even when a state has emancipation laws, it’s not always a practical or realistic option. For more info about this in your state, usually contacting the local family court is the best starting point.) Knowing all of this, do you still feel like you want to runaway? Sometimes it helps to just have an unbiased, non-judgemental person to talk to. Here at the National Runaway Switchboard, we are always available to talk about your situation, help you come up with options, and a safe plan of action. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number is 1-800-RUNAWAY. Call anytime.

[Guest]

Re: if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

So. What your trying to say is that if my mom doesn't know where i am the cops wont search for me day and night?
But what if she knows were i am but cant provide them with enough info so they can find me?
Ex: Shell know im with my friend but only knows my friends first name and nothing else. She doesn't know my friends last name. My friends mothers name or where they live.
Can the cops still find me?
Can they find me if they have my friends house number?
Im sorry for all the questions.
I do plan on leaving my house. But i wont go with my friend unless i know they will be safe.
They will take care of me and supply me with food and shelter but i dont want to endanger them in anyway.
But if thats still to risky ill see if i can move in with my grandfather. Can i be forced out of my grandfathers home by the cops?
This is just all to hard for me. I cant stand living under this house any longer.
My mother doesnt understand me and when i try to talk to her i always get yelled at and punished.
Its all very difficult and her Christianity is defenitly getting in they way of her actually caring for me.
Please answer my questions.
Thank you.

[ccsmod1]

Re: if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

Thanks for posting again. It sounds like there are a lot of things that you’re still trying to work though. First, there isn’t “one way” that the cops handle runaways. In some areas they do search for runaways, even if they don’t know exactly where they are. In other areas, they don’t. There is no way to know or tell you exactly how the cops in your area will handle it if you runaway and your mom calls them. If you were to go to your friend’s house, would your friend and her mom know you were a runaway? In many states, there is a “harboring a runaway” law which basically means that if an adult lets a runaway stay (and knows they don’t have permission to be there) they can get into trouble with the law. Again, there’s no way to tell for sure if your friend’s mom would get into trouble for this if you did stay there. As far as your grandfather’s house, the same thing applies. Unless you’re with your legal guardian or have permission from your legal guardian, the police can return you back home.

It sounds like things at home have gotten to hard to stand. We're sorry to hear that you feel like your mom doesn’t actually care for you. Knowing that there’s no guarantee that you won’t be brought back home, no matter where you go, do you still plan on leaving your house? We obviously are not here to tell you whether or not to runaway. If you have more questions or want to talk more about it, our hotline is always available. Call anytime.

[Guest]

Re: if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

i have a question...ive run away once and my parents called the cops...now a year later ...same problem came along and now ive called my mom and she told me that its not up to her anymore if i can come home because im already reported as a 2nd time runaway...but its hasnt been 24 hours yet..i asked to come home and she said for what if you dont even want to be here anyways...i have no idea iif i can go to juvenile hall or what can happen after this can you let me know?

[ccsmod5]

Re: if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

Hello,

Thanks for continuing the discussion. Seems like your guardian did make another report and sometimes it doesn't even matter if it's been 2 hours or 30 hours. Some police departments take runaway report immediately. Also, it's really hard to say whether or not you will be placed in juvenile detention. Do you have a case/social worker? Have you asked our mom if you will be put into detention?

Sounds like you have some things you want to clear up. If you are able and willing, you can call us 24hrs at 1800RUNAWAY so we can talk about other options you might be able to look into. Best of luck.

-NRS

[Unregistered]

Runaway

Hi, am 16 and I live with my mom and little brother. This year and last year has been really hard on me and I really want to runaway from home but am scared my moms going to do something to my little brother. One of my friends said I could stay with her but she lives really close to me but only my brother knows where she lives. My friend also said her mom likes other kids more that her own so she would welcome me and let me stay. I heard somewhere online that I could call the police and say am going to runaway so they wont come looking but I don't know if that's true. Also not recently just last year when I disagree with my mom and I knew whatever was right and she believe it wasn't she would hit me and try to beat me up but holds back. Just yesterday my little brother fell up the stairs and only for like a min she was like you ok? But she just seem mad afterward. Also my little brother cried in front of her cause the way she acted. I am more close to my brother so he looks up to me instead of mom. I mumbled under my breath even when injured? b/c she said she wasn't going to be nice anymore. She came over to me and hold down my wrists hard and yelled at me. I can't really remembered what she said but I do remember her saying that she grew up playing with boys in the street so she can kick my ass and that she would take everything away from me. I wrote down what happened in my journal and she found it and read it. She just told me that she would count the months till am 17 so she would kick me out. I told my friend today and she said I should call the police for abuse but am to scared. Am going to tell my other friends tomorrow. I don't really know what to do anymore.

[ccsmod4]

If I runaway can my mom call the cops?

Hi,

Thanks for posting.
We are so sorry to hear about the way your mom has been treating you and your brother.
The two of you do not deserve to be treated this way, we hope you are safe tonight and will continue to try and remain safe.
It sounds like you have suffered from your mom’s treatment of you and your brother.

You are not to blame for your mom’s actions and neither is your brother.
Your brother sounds like he is very important to you. It’s nice that you want to look out for him.
It hopefully is great comfort to your brother to know how much you care about him.

We understand your feelings on running away from home.
It sounds like things get pretty scary there.
It’s good that you have friends along with their parents who are supportive.

Home should have the feeling of a safe haven.
It is not right to be abused physically, emotionally or verbally.

How long has this been going on?
Can you remember any changes that may be contributing to your mom’s behavior?

We notice you did not mention your dad or grandparents etc.
Are there any relatives you can turn to for support?
Perhaps there is someone at school like a teacher you like or a school counselor.

Your friend mentioned filing an abuse report but you said doing so made you scared.
What are you afraid would happen by doing so?

We can’t tell you what to do but we can provide you with referral numbers should you decide you do want to file an abuse report. You are welcome to call our 24 hour 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) crisis line and talk to one of our liners about your situation further and go over some options.

Being mandated reporters we provide services of conference calls to Child Protective Services for those individuals wanting to file child abuse reports. We also can file a report on an individual’s behalf. If you do not want to file a child abuse report it is important that you do not give any Identifying information if you wish to maintain your anonymity and confidentiality with NRS. Teachers/school counselors may also be mandated reporters .
Does that make sense?

We can’t verify the theory your friend told you about calling the police and informing them you ran away so that they don’t look for you. To our knowledge if your mother files a runaway report you will be added to the police data base as such. Once again consider calling our 1-800 Runaway 24 hour hotline to go over this issue and more concerning your situation.

In the mean time we hope you can begin to feel better and be safe at home.
We hope your brother is good and safe as well.

Here are two numbers for your consideration:

Child Help USA (National Child abuse reporting agency)
1-800422-4453
Justice For children (Child Advocate)
1-800-733-0059

Take care and be safe.
NRS

[Unregistered]

ranaway but ny parents told me to get out

im 16 years old and tonight i got into a fight with my my and my step dad got into the fight and was screaming at me very badly i cant take the screaming or the yelling i said if he didnt get out of my face i was going to leave. i packed my bags and got ready to go my mom said just th and calm down and just got to your room but i seriously cant take it anymore. me and her started arguing again and im like thats it im done and im leaving and then my step dad came over and said fine than gtfo so i did. a friend picked me up and took me to another friends house. now my mom calling saying shes gonna call the cops because i "ranaway" can the cops really do anything tho? i didnt runaway i did what they told me to do? they told me to get the F*** outta the house and so i did? can i still get in trouble for leaving and going to a friends if they told me to leave to begin with?

[ccsmod8]

RE: If Runaway Can My Mom Call The Cops?

Hello,

Thanks for contacting us at the National Runaway Switchboard for support. It sounds like a lot went down tonight and you must be frustrated. We imagine how hard this must be for you since you were told one thing and now your parents are saying another. We are not legal experts. We can only give you a general overview of what may happen. People change stories all time and it seems to be what your parents are aiming at.

In general, it is not illegal to run away. It sounds like you did not run away but legally you may be one if your parents were to call the police and report you. It is not a crime to run away but if someone harbors you, that is illegal. Once it is officially in the police database it makes you a runaway. We empathize with what has happened to you. We are glad you contacted us to tell us your side of things. We just want you to know that you run the risk of getting your friend and their family into trouble for harboring even if your parents told you to leave.

Have you thought about calling the police yourself? It may help to show that you are willing to cooperate with them. You do not deserve to be treated this way. It is not fair to you. It may help you to sort things out with the police. What if your friend's family were to call with you? This may show that they too are not trying to break any laws. The laws tend to vary from state to state, county to county and comes down to police discretion. They are the ones who has to respond.

It may be to your benefit to give them a call but we cannot tell you what to do. We can only give you options to consider. If you need to talk things over we are here for you 24 hours a day at 1800RUNAWAY. We are confidential and anonymous. Good luck.

-NRS

[Unregistered]

runaway

Can my mom call the cops if I run away pleas repl

[ccsmod0]

Re: If i runaway can my mom call the cops?

Hi there,
We unfortunately are not legal experts therefore are only able to say so much. If you are under the age of 18, and/or are considered a minor your mom may have the option of calling the police to report you as a runaway if you leave without permission. You can call your local police to find out the legal consequences of leaving at your age. If you can call us we are more than happy to talk with you about what is going on, as well as look into any resources that may be able to help you. We are here 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY or you can reach us through chat from 4:30-11:30pm CST.
Best of luck to you and we hope to hear from you soon,
NRS

[Unregistered]

Im 16 and im thinking about running away i have thought about it for the past two years.. my mom got married about three years ago and we have gotten in alot of fights.. and my friends have told me i can live with them but i wont to know if she calls the cops on me for running away if they can get me if i show clips of them hitting my step brother in the chest or with a fork or hitting him in the head could they still take me away???? plzzz reply!!

[ccsmod3]

Re: if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

Hi there,

We’re glad you decided to reach out to the National Runaway Switchboard. It sounds like you’ve got a lot going on at home and we recognize how that might be stressful. You indicate your step-brother has been hit in the chest or head and while we are not sure if that is also happening to you or not, no one deserves to be abused physically or any other way. We are very sorry if that is what has been happening in your home.

If abuse is something that goes on at home, one option would be to file a child abuse report. We can’t say for certain what would happen, but if there is another evidence/reason and Child Protective Services (CPS) opens a case, then it would typically follow with an investigation. If you’d like help with that or to continue discussing any other options, you are welcome to contact us directly either by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through our Live Chat from 4:30 to 11:30 pm CST (big red button on www.1800runaway.org). We hope that helps a bit and that you stay safe in the meantime.

Best of luck to you, NRS

[Unregistered]

My mom has screamed at me numerous times that I can leave, she doesn't care if I runaway. I'm thinking about filing for Emancipation - and have been for a long time . But I've looked in my states requirements for it & it states that I have to be living away from my parent/guardian for a short period of time, that way I can prove I am responsible. I've politely tried explaining to my mom why I am doing this, but she doesn't care. She's been getting more and more abusive lately. Physically, mentally & emotionally. I've already suffered sexual abuse from my dad & I don't want to put myself in another abusive situation. I already have a place to stay & she knows that. I have a job, too. So if I go live at this friends' house before I file for emancipation (as required) and she says she doesn't care, can she still call the cops to say im a runaway? She threatens me about it constantly. I seriously need to get out of my house. I'm having suicidal thoughts, again, because of what she's been doing to me. What else can I do about the abuse? :'( She never leaves my side, so I can't call anyone .