if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

I'm 15 year old female, I live in a household that is only my mom and I. I want to move out because my mom verbally and mentally to the point I can't stand hearing her name or voice without it making me upset or angry. I'm not in any physical danger from her, but I don't know how much longer I can handle living with her. I have a friend that said would let me move in with them, but I can't just ask my mom to let me move out because she would say no. There are no family members I can move in with because they are just all the same as she is. I don't know what to do. My friend lives in a different state, but we are really close and have known each other for a long time.
I really just want to get out of my house because I can't stand it. I really, really can't.

[ccsmod5]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to us today. We are always available to help in any way we can.

It sounds like the situation with your mom calling the cops on you must have been really stressful and frustrating to go through. Unfortunately, since she is your legal guardian, she can take away her permission for you to be away from home. Which seems really unfair but is how the law works. We would like to talk more about your home situation with mom, so reach out if you’d like to!

Please give us a call at (800) RUNAWAY or chat with us on our website www.1800runaway.org . We are open 24/7 so we are always available for you! Stay safe and thanks again for reaching out.

Best, NRS

If my mom told me to leave so i did then she called me in for a runaway can she do that?

[ccsmod3]

Thanks for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. You made a great first step to finding the help that you may need. It sounds like you are going through a lot and the people around you are not being supportive. You deserve to be treated with respect, to experience acceptance and to feel safe.

We want you to know that you are strong for having gone through so much already. It is perfectly okay to deviate from what others or the common population believe to be “normal”. You’re bravery and resilience is so admirable. You are so strong for having gone through so much without having the acceptance that you do deserve for just being you. Remember that you are not alone. If you ever want to talk more about what you are experiencing or get additional support we are here 24/7 at 1800-RUNAWAY or our live chat service. The GLBT National Hotline at 1888-843-4564 is another option to gain great support from those that are familiar with the issues and experiences of those that are also a part of the LGBTQ community. You can access their website link bellow to utilize all the other possibly useful resources they have to offer: http://www.glbthotline.org/

You mentioned that you were considering the options that may be best for you. By all means, if you do fear for your safety either now or in the future, do not hesitate to take the necessary steps to regain your safety. This may mean calling the authorities or possibly reporting the things you may be experiencing. Other options to think about may be other family members, friends, or a trusted adults that would be able to provide you with support or a safe place to stay. It is great that you thinking ahead. Should you feel like leaving home is best, it may be a good idea to think about how you will provide necessities for yourself such as food, clothing, showers, healthcare and other basic needs. You may want to also consider how your parent’s will react to you leaving without permission. We are not legal experts here, but typically as a minor (under the age of 1 you need permission from your parents to leave home. It is not illegal to runaway, but it would mean that your parents could file a runaway report with the police. This is usually done in an effort to try to return you home as the police are required to do so.

If you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or reach out through Live Chat we can try to find some youth shelters that may be near your city and state by utilizing our database of resources. We can also try to call out to shelters with you or on your behalf to advocate for you.

Stay Strong,
NRS

my mom has mentally and verbally abused me for the last 6 years and threatens to beat me because i'm a lesbians and my friend don't wanna come over because of her . can she call the cops if i'm 18 ? i live in georgia.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there thanks for reaching out, it seems like you have gone through so much in your life and you are totally right to say that you aren’t being evil or selfish just for wanting to be healthy emotionally and feel supported by those around you. Everyone deserves support from their family and a chance to grow up and become their best person so its understandable that you want to get out of a situation like this that can better the odds of your success since you can focus on school etc.
In answer to your questions, we aren’t legal experts so we can’t say for sure if this meets the legal definition of emotional abuse, however your mother’s actions are clearly meant to cut you down rather than to raise you up. If you did runaway your mom would have a right to file a runaway report and contact the police. This is a status offence and if/when police find you, you can claim that there is emotional abuse at home if you wanted but that would prompt a DCF investigation before you are brought home.

Hopefully this information is helpful, if you want to talk more in depth or have other questions you can call us at 1-800-786-2929 or start a chat with us at www.1800runaway.org. We are 24/7 and confidential.

im 16 years old, i think my mother has Borderline personality disorder, my mother is a single parent of 4 kids. my older sister who is a legal adult has been saying for years my mom needs mental help and so has my grandma and most people that know my mom long enough. She screams and yells, is a compulsive liar and tells me im evil. she blames me for all her problems and expects me to take care of my two little sisters and then claims i do nothing for her and that im selfish. She has destroyed all my friendships by texting them and telling them that if they ever contact me again she will file charges and has even gotten a restraining order against my best friend because she didnt like her. ive been thinking about emancipation but i do not have a job as she will not allow me to get one. my older sister has told me to move in with my grandma who has told me i am welcome to do so but my mother wont allow me to. Does this count as emotional abuse? If i were to runaway and go live with my grandma would the police arrest her? If my mother were to call the cops, which she would, could i tell them im being emotionally abused and ask that i be allowed to live with my grandma? My mom tells everyone that im the crazy one and that i have a mental and drug problem because she found out ive smoked pot before when in reality the only reason i would be insane is because she makes me feel that way. Im currently grounded and have my phone and car taken away and ive been told "im never going out of the house again and she will homeschool me if she has to". i cant do this anymore ive been putting up with it my whole life. ive watched her do this to my older sister and her own mother, my grandma, while making herself look like the victim. i dont want to have to call DCF as i know my mom will lie her way out of trouble just as she has done in the past when they have been called. im not a failure, im not evil, im not selfish, all i want is to be able to graduate and go to college and have a life and to prove to her that i do have a future, since she loves to tell me i dont, but i cannot do any of that while living with her. i have no joy in life at all, i NEED to move in with my grandma but i will not subject her to being arrested for trying to help me. plz respond

[ccsmod10]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what's going on.

While we’re not legal experts, we do have some basic knowledge on that area. 18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home. 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. One way to find out the laws in your area, is by calling your local police non-emergency number. You can anonymously ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth, and what happens if youth refuse to go home. If you’re not comfortable making that call by yourself, we do offer conference calling, so we can make that call together.

If you want to talk more in depth about what is going on and find out what resources are available to you, do not hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or start a chat with us at www.1800runaway.org. We are 24/7 and confidential. We are here to listen and here to help.
Best of Luck,
NRS

I am planning on running away and I am 14 years old. When I was younger my older sibling went through the same thing and my mom called the cops to search for her . So let’s say I’m out and about on the streets and there cops find me, if I run away from the cops will I go to jail.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today. That sounds really frustrating that your mom is giving you the choice to leave, but then calls you in as a runaway. Unfortunately, it is true that you can stay anywhere safe with her permission, but if she is filing you as a runaway, it is like she is taking back that permission she gave you. Here at NRS, we truly want to be a support for you during this difficult time.

If you are listed as a runaway at 17 years old, it is possible that police could return you home if found. It is also possible that they could take lesser actions like doing a safety check to make sure you are okay or they might not actively look for you since you are close to being a legal adult. If police find you, it could help to be upfront with them and to let them know what your mom said to you about leaving. If there is anything at home that is making you unsafe, you might also let them know about what is going on at home. How police respond to 17 year old runaway situations depends on the local department's protocols. You might reach out to your local police to learn more about how they respond.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat us for additional assistance, we are always here for you.

Best,

NRS

If my mom gave me the choice to leave and I do; and I cross state lines, but she calls me in as a runaway, what can I do if/when the cops find me? I'm 17 if that helps.

[ccsmod15]

Hey, thanks for contacting us. We never tell anyone what to do, but if you want to give us a call or chat with us we can explore your situation with you further and help you decide what you'd like to do. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY and our chatroom can be found via the portal on our main website: www.1800runaway.org. We are confidential and here 24/7. Since you posted in this topic you may also be wondering if your mom or guardian can call the police if you do decide to leave home without permission. Just so you know, running away isn't a crime but it is a status offense like breaking curfew. Your mom can file a runaway report with the police if you are under 18 and leave home without permission. We hope this information helps and we hope to hear from you soon.

Stay safe!
NRS

Hi i want to runaway when is the eight time to go

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting NRS. From what you shared, home has not been safe for you. You deserve to be treated in a way that makes you feel cared for and abuse of any kind is never okay.

Generally speaking, if you leave home without the permission of your parents/guardian, you can be reported as a runaway. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means that it is something that you cannot do because of your age and your parents can have the police return you home.

Since you mentioned that there is abuse going on, you do have the option to make an abuse report. A child abuse report can get a social worker involved to help. This can be a scary decision to make and you do not need to make it alone. If you want to know more about the reporting process or you would like to start the report, you can call the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or go to https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/. Additionally we are here by phone and chat 24/7 to listen and help.

We truly want to be a support for you while you think through your next steps. Please do not hesitate to reach out anytime by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org if you would like to talk more about your situation.

Be safe,
NRS

what happens if i run away because i'm abused