if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

[Guest]

i fight with my mom and have had enough but no where to go any suggestions family is all gone except for her and no friends that can take me in and im not able to provide for myself so i cant get emancipated

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline and sharing a little bit about what is going. It takes a lot of courage to reach out and especially in a time where you have a really tough and complex situation at home. If staying at home doesn't feel like a safe option to you right now, you might also be able to stay in a shelter. If you give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY we might be able to talk through your options on where to stay and give you specific resources in your area. We have a database of shelters and resources, and we could help you locate a place to stay and help you contact shelters via telephone. We are not legal experts here, but since you're under 18 you might face some challenges when searching for shelters. Some shelters may at some point need to get parental consent for longer stays, however there are other options for emergency housing too. You can look up some of these options yourself using: 211.org, nationalsafeplace.org, homelessshelterdirectory.com.
It can be difficult to know how to talk to your parents and express your feelings about how you are feeling. We would encourage you to reach out to a trusted adult, teacher, relative, and friend that you can talk to and potentially help you mediate a conversation with your parents about your current situation. At NRS, we do offer a service call conference calling, where you can call into our hotline and then we would reach out to your guardian and help advocate for you, help you express the needs you have to your parents.
We are here for you and will support you in anyway that we can. Please feel free to call into us directly as we can talk further about your situation and find resources that are best for you in your area. Stay strong and you are not alone in this! Our hotline ( 1-800-RUNAWAY) and chat are open 24/7.
-NRS

[Guest]

Hello I'm 12 and I'm thinking about running away because I want to keep my family safe but so far I feel like no one would believe me so please believe me. About 3 weeks ago I started feeling like I was being sadi

[ccsmod5]

Hi, there,
It sounds like you’re in a challenging situation and are concerned for your family’s safety. We are unsure of the details, but if you ever feel like you or your family are in danger you can always call 9-1-1. We would be very happy to help in any way we can, whether you need resources or someone to brainstorm options. We are here 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929. We hope to hear from you soon. Stay safe!
--NRS

[Guest]

I'm 17 I have ran away twice in the past two weeks each time the cops brought me home. the first time they found me in under an hour. then this past Friday i thought i was smarter but they still found me within 4 hours and took me home. i have an open dyfes case so they had to call my social worker and they had to come back to my house and question everyone in my house again for the fourth time this month. but nobody is doing anything to help me so im probably gonna be running away again by the end of the week. your mom can call the cops and she probably will but if you really need to run away your gonna need to move fast and if you don't want the cops to bring you back home by the end of the night your going to have to blend in wherever you go. and don't go to a friends house like i did thats where they are going to look for you first.

[ccsmod10]

Thank you for reaching out to us and telling us your story. It sounds like you are going through a very difficult time right now and it’s causing you to want to runaway. We’re not legal experts here at NRS. Generally it’s not illegal to leave home, but your parents could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home and that sounds like what has been happening.

We are sorry to hear that no one has been able to help you out of this situation but if there is any abuse going on you can still report it each time it happens. If you want more information about abuse reporting or if you want to file a report, you could call Child Help at 1-800-422-4453.

If you don’t feel safe and feel like you need to get away Nationalsafeplace.org provides a safe location for you to meet a staff member who can take you to a designated place where you can discuss all options about how to stay safe. You can text 44357 the word “safe,” and your location to find a safe location in your area. Once you arrive let someone who works there know you need help connecting with a staff member.

It can be difficult to manage situations like this and you don’t have to do it alone. We would love to talk more about the details of your situation so that we can work towards a solution you find acceptable. If you would like to share more, please feel free to call our 24 hour hotline at 1-800Runaway (786-2929) or use our live chat.

Take care

-NRS

[Guest]

I was told that if I leave and the cops bring me back two times, the third time they would put me in like a foster home is this true? I’m 17 and live in New York

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17 and I’ve been told that if I run away the third time the police bring me back home then they can put me in a foster home or some type of home for kids, I’m 17 and live in New York is this true.

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. From what we gather about your story it seems like if you choose to runaway again there might be some consequences. If the cops have told you this it means they are aware of the situation more than us and we would recommend listening to what they as they know the laws better than we do. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

My dad mently abuse me and my sister and I don't feel safe at home but the cops will not believe us so I left home what do I do because I think he called the cops

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

You mentioned that you feel unsafe at home, this raises some concern for your safety and well-being. Absolutely no one deserves to be abused. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering. It may also be a good idea to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

ive been in and out of CPS cases due to my step-dad and i had to watch him tear my family apart and after all the abuse and closed cases him and my mom are forcing me to live with them and id rather be homeless then see his face before i went to bed at night and live with him so my best option is to runaway and nothing will stop me

[ccsmod7]

Hi,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. We know it is not easy to seek help sometimes, so your decisions demonstrates bravery and maturity. Your situation sounds frustrating and scary.

First of all, you do not deserve to be abused or to feel unsafe or uncomfortable at home. It must leave you feeling angry and alone that CPS was not able to help you. It sounds like what you would really like to do is run away. If you are ready to move forward with this, it is important to have an idea of what you will do. If you are interested in finding a place to stay, it might be helpful for you to call us here. Calling our hotline at 1-800-RUN-AWAY could allow you to talk through your plan and possibly get some specific resources, like shelters, safe places, or legal advice centers. Otherwise, you might consider contacting friends or extended family to see if they might be able to help you or provide you a place to stay.

We hope that this is helpful for you. Running away can mean a lot of unknowns, but you are clearly making an effort to ensure your safety and wellbeing. If you would ever like to call us, we are available 24/7—always here to listen, here to help. Good luck.

Sincerely,

National Runaway Safeline

[Guest]

my whole family has been against me for a few years & i dont feel safe nor mentally okay to stay w them, im going to leave & im 16 & i have a place to stay & a job w stable income, if i do leave would i have to come back if they call the police ? i plan on staying in school & continuing to work i just need a toxic free & safe environment for my mental health & self protection

[ccsmod11]

If you have contacted NRS today through another means (for example, live chat, email or bulletin) for the same issue, it would be helpful to let us know that you have already contacted us. NRS understands it takes courage to reach out for help; therefore, we would like to minimize the need for you to repeat your situation and avoid offering you duplicate services.
Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi im a 17 year old girl living in the state of maine in the USA. My mother has told me multiple times that she wants me to move out but then she goes and says that if i move out before im 18 she will call the cops and tell them that i ran away even if she gives me permission to leave. She says that the cops will have no proof of her saying i can leave so i wont be able to do anything. she kicked me out of my house this morning and told me to find a new place to live so i found a place with my friend and i will still be able to attend school safely. I just need to know if the cops will be able to do anything, whether or not they will be able to make me go home or if they would believe me if i told them what my mother told me. regardless im not going backi just dont want to get in trouble for following the orders of my mother who is unfortunately an emotion and physical abuser.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today. That sounds really hurtful and manipulative that your mom kicks you out and tells you to leave and then threatens to call police. Here at NRS we truly want to be a support for you, especially while you are lacking that at home.

Generally speaking, permission is not legally binding so your mom can keep going back on her permission, as unfair as it really is. However, it is typically illegal or neglect for a parent to kick out a minor so you do have the right to report the emotional and physical abuse as well as the neglect to Child Protective Services (CPS). To learn more about that option, you might reach out to the experts at Child Help 1-800-422-4453. If your mom does get police involved, you can let them know what is going on but it is hard to say how they would handle the situation. They generally should get CPS involved when abuse is the situation, however, it is possible they could return you home if they do not see any evidence. If you have any evidence of the abuse and/or neglect, such as pictures of injuries or recordings of being kicked out.

If you would like to talk through your situation and help with brainstorming your options please call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat us at www.1800runaway.org. We are here 24/7 and we are here to listen.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

my dads wife kicked me out bc she went through my journal and had read something about her she doesn’t like and told me to pack my s**t and leave so I did and she told me I couldn’t come back and sent me with my unstable mom I am 15 and my mom has been abusive in the past and that’s why we got taken from her she can’t afford food or necessities for herself and she gets mad when things aren’t her way when she can’t even afford to get my clothes washed and my friend can provide me a good home w a stable life and get me to school next semester and get me a really good job and my mom threatened to say she was going to call the cops and say I ran away when she has called dhr so many times over no reason so they kinda ignore her now she is not stable she just wants the taxes off of me

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today.

Sounds like you have gone through so much between your abusive and unstable bio mom and your dad's wife kicking you out for trivial reasons. You so deserve to live in a stable environment free of violence where you can thrive. You must be incredibly resilient for having gone through all of this.

It sounds like you are not getting your basic needs met at your mom's and you have experienced abuse in the past and have already been removed for that reason. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

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.

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.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi! I'm 19 and deaf too. I wanted to know if I can walk out of my mom house with no money and no driver license and else but I wanted to know anything else which it allows for me to leave my mom house and again which I'm afraid to do that because I have no one help me to get through the situation. I don't want her to call cop on me or trying to hit me with anything depending on how she feels either she goes crazy over what I'm doing for myself it because I already feel enough grown and can take care of myself which I would be leaving her house and finding my own way to get all stuff together I need for myself. I'm still in high school and 12 grade but what is my point is that I wanted a space from them which I totally stressed over with three women in the house I live right now.

PLEASE reply back to me and help me, please! Thanks!

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, seems like you reached out on a different platform regarding this same issue. Thank you so much for reaching out so we could have a conversation and best help. NRS understands it takes courage to reach out for help; therefore, we would like to minimize the need for you to repeat your situation and avoid offering you duplicate services. Please call or chat us again if you ever need, we are always here for you: 1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org.

Best of luck,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi I was contacting you guys because recently my girlfriend ran way from home due to neglect and treated badly at home and I don’t know how to go about it? Her mother won’t let her talk to anyone or step out the house not even for a second and She was thinking about running away because no one cares about her in her family and they said they was going o send her to defacts but also she was seeking to get emancipated due to her being pregnant and wanted to get emancipated in the state of Georgia and as time progressed her mother continues to make her feel neglected and blackmails her to do things which is not right

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We ask that you callk so we can gather some more information about what is going on so we can give you a more accurate resources/options to your dilemma. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

I live in Iowa so if I run away and the people who I go to have a place for me to sleep, have food, have a place to shower, etc. Can the cops the cops take me away and can that person be in danger for helping me out

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I want to runaway right now and I dont know where I am going currently, and I dont know whats the best time, I also dont know what to pack Im only 12 and my parents don't treat me like im there child they never disicpline my soster or anything, and im wondering what will happen if i do run away and my mom calls the police, what will happen when they find me, I'm thinking about going to my cousins house or my friends house, but they are both far away

[ccsmod13]

Thank you for reaching out to NRS!

It sounds like you have been having a difficult time at home because of how your parents treat you. Home is somewhere that should feel safe and supportive. It must be frustrating when your parents only discipline you and not your sister.

We cannot give expert legal advice, but we can let you know some general information from what we know. If you leave home without your parents’ permission, they do have the right to file a runaway report. Running away is not illegal, so you would not be arrested. If the police know where you are, they will return you home.

It sounds like your cousin and your friend are people that you trust. We encourage you to reach out to them for support. They might be able to offer you a listening ear or help you talk to your parents about how you have been feeling. If you do want to talk to your parents about what has been going on, we can help through our conference call service. If you call NRS at 1-800-786-2929, we call your parents together and make sure that you feel heard.

Please do not hesitate to reach out through phone (1-800-RUNAWAY) or chat (1800runaway.org). We are here 24/7 to listen and support you,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 14 years old and I have been planning to run away since I was 12 BASSICALLY? I have been tired of getting yelled at for almost everything by my mom and dad I know where to go I have it all planned out I’ll change my hair change everything I’ll be at a older friends apartment that will also be running away this is tiring because I’ll really miss my baby brother but this is really important to me I have to do this they make me upset all the time

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to live with your parents since they yell at you so frequently. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

It’s important to consider all the possibilities that can occur if you leave home. You will need to plan out how you will cover basic necessities like travel, food, clothing, etc. You mentioned that you are planning on staying with a friend; it’s good to see what the expectations of the living arrangement will be like; rules, the amount of time you’re allowed to stay, if you’re expected to contribute financially, etc. Living on your own can also bring about many safety risks. You will need to consider ways that you can protect yourself from physical harm as well as the possibility of exploitation. This can all influence your decision to leave.

It sounds like your parents aren’t listening to you when you are trying to express how upset they make you. It could be a good idea to work with a local family counselor or have a conversation mediated by a school counselor/social worker, trusted friend, or family member to help clear the air. If you'd like, you can also call us directly and we can conduct a conference call with your parents so you have a safe environment where you can express yourself.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in-depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Stay safe,
NRS