if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

[Guest]

I am 16 and living at my house is just hard deaking with my mom I've read that in Nevada u can legally leave your house with your parents consent as long as you aren't in any danger is that true?

[ccsmod13]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to NRS! From what you mentioned, it sounds like living with your mom has been difficult. We are not legal experts by any means, but we can share some general information with you.

If your mom gives you permission to live somewhere else where you are safe and being taken care of then you could leave home without any police intervention. If you were to leave home without your mom’s permission then she would have the right to file a runaway report. Running away is not illegal, but if police know where you are then you would likely be returned home. Your local police department will be ably to answer more specifically how they handle runaway reports. You can call the non-emergency number to ask any questions you might have anonymously.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or chat at 1800runaway.org if you would like to talk more about your situation.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

If I’m just going out with my friends and I’m 16 years old but my mom doesn’t want me going out with them. Can my mom call the police and tell them to go get me and they will.

[ccsmod15]

Hello,
Thank you for reaching out during this difficult time. It sounds like you are worried about your mom calling the police on you if you leave home. Just to let you know, we are not legal experts, but technically it’s not against the law for you to go out and hang out with your friends without your mom’s permission. However, your mom does have the right to call the police on you and list you as a runaway if you have been missing from home. Some police stations will require a youth to be missing for over 24 hours before making the report though. You can always call your local police department and ask what their laws are. Here at the National Runaway Safeline, we want you to be safe, please give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 if you have any further questions or concerns.

[Guest]

But I’m not a run away I just wanna go hang out with my friends for a few hours . Would she call the police to come get me if she said no I can’t go out today or is she not aloud to

[ccsmod15]

Hello, please see previous comment,
"Hello,
Thank you for reaching out during this difficult time. It sounds like you are worried about your mom calling the police on you if you leave home. Just to let you know, we are not legal experts, but technically it’s not against the law for you to go out and hang out with your friends without your mom’s permission. However, your mom does have the right to call the police on you and list you as a runaway if you have been missing from home. Some police stations will require a youth to be missing for over 24 hours before making the report though. You can always call your local police department and ask what their laws are. Here at the National Runaway Safeline, we want you to be safe, please give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 if you have any further questions or concerns."

[Guest]

Is it true In oregon its not against the law to run away . No one can force you to go home not even the cops . So i was told by dhs.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there, 

That's a great question. While it is not illegal to run away before you are 18, it is considered a status offense in Oregon and most other states. In other words, running away is not a crime, but you could be detained by police until they release you to your parents. Note that the police can require you to return home even if you don't want to. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you do run away, anyone you stay with could be considered harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor. If you're thinking about running away we'd love to talk to you more. We never tell anyone what to do but try to work with you to explore what your best options are. If you can, give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or use our chat feature on our website's main page. Hope to hear from you! Stay safe! 

NRS

[Guest]

Hello! I’m 11 and I’m planning to run away from home, I have everything arranged,where I’m staying, and what I’m packing. I just wanted to know, if my mom was able to find my location would I HAVE to go with her, or, could I have a choice of staying where I am? I would really appreciate the response, I just want to know before I leave.

[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. However please know if you are experiencing any type of abuse please do not hesitate to gather evidence and report whatever may be going on. We also help with reporting so that you do not have to feel alone.
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]

If a 16 year old runs away the first time in grandrapids mi can he go to juvi?

[ccsmod3]

Thank you for reaching out to us to help you figure out options. We are not legal experts but it looks like in Michigan you are not considered an adult until you are 18. This means that if your parents filed a runaway report you wouldn’t be charged with anything but more than likely taken back to them. You can also find this information if you go to Sexetc.org. This is a good resource for you to have since it seems like you wanted to know the options available to you. If you live in a different state they may have to place you in a surrounding shelter until they could transport you back to your original city and state. You can also contact your local non-emergency police department to ask about the policies.
If you have any other questions or concerns you can contact us at NRS at 1800-RUNAWAY. Thank you again for contacting us.

[Guest]

I’m about to be 16 in sept and my mom has been emotionally abusing me for like I don’t know ever since middle school and last night she found out I posted some not so inappropriate picture just for fun and she verbally hurt me and threat me and I want to run away , I don’t want to be with her anymore what can I do , and she even didn’t care today that I didn’t go to school.

[ccsmod7]

Hey thanks for reaching out to us, it seems like your mom has been unfair to you for a while now. It certainly seems unreasonable to be so mean verbally as well as threaten you over a picture you posted. It makes sense that you would feel frustrated by that and want to escape the situation, especially when she turns around and doesn’t seem to care about you going to school.

Generally when there is verbal abuse at home the best way to avoid it is to be somewhere else safe as much as possible. This could be at school doing sports or clubs, or a trusted friends’ house, even an after school job might help you to have something to do outside of home.

It might be worth asking your mom to consider family counseling or anger counseling. We can help you look up resources in your area on the phone if you wanted. Of course that assumes that she is willing to try that. If not it might be worth it to have a counselor just for you. Someone safe to talk with who may not know your mom might be enough to vent your frustrations.

If you do feel like you need to run away having a plan is going to be key to your safety. This could be a place to stay long-term, where you might get a job, how you will go to school etc. We are available to help consider your options anytime at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or online chats on our website.

[Guest]

If I run away and my parents filed me as a run away but I go back a few hours later are my parents forced to call cops and let them know I came back if so will the cops come to my parents house?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to NRS with your question. We are not legal experts, but we can share some general information with you. If you leave home without permission your parents can attempt to file a runaway report. In the event that this happens, they can have the police pick you up and bring you back home if they know where you are. Once you return back home, you are no longer considered a runaway. If the runwaway report is filed successfully, it might be a good idea for your parents to call the police to notify them you are no longer a runaway. However, the police will not need to come to your house after this regarding the report. Running away is not illegal, so you do not necessarily need to be concerned with getting in trouble with the police rather consequences for this would be decided by your parents.

We hope we were able to answer your question. Do not hesitate to contact NRS by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our chat services at 1800runaway.org if you have any other concerns/questions.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

i hate my mom and i wanrt to kill my self

[ccsmod10]

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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. It sounds like you’re fearing that the situation may end in suicide if things don’t change. Your safety and well-being is important. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but 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 call or chat soon. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe and stay strong,

NRS

[Guest]

I’m turning 18 in a few days. I’m going on a trip with my friend and her parents. Can my mother report me as a runaway and if so will the cops come looking for me even if I turn 18?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. Unless you are living in Alabama, Mississippi, or Nebraska, the age of majority is 18. That means that as soon as you turn 18 you have the right to decide where you live. Once you are the age of majority in your state the police cannot force you to live anywhere unless you are breaking the law. If you want to provide some more details about your situation, we would be happy to provide you with whatever information we have available. Please call us on our 24/7 hotline 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello,

I am 11 and I want to runaway with my 13 year old friend. How long will I have on till I can’t go on a plane then my passport will give me away to the police. Do busses require a identification card or number? I have Two sisters about my age and they treat me like TRASH, my stepmom dose not care what so ever and my dad died and he was the only one that loved me.

I would love a reply, Thanks

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. 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. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your stepmom can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned home. Runaway reports are entered into a national database and are only invalidated once the youth turns 18.

Generally speaking, most transportation companies (airlines, bus lines, etc.) will not let unaccompanied youth travel without a parent or adult chaperone. So, even if you are able to bring an ID like a passport you may not be given the opportunity to use it. 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. If you have a place to go in mind, 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 sexual and labor exploitation. This can all influence your decision to leave.

It sounds like the tension between you, your sisters and your stepmom is making you very uncomfortable at home. 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 stepmom 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

[Guest]

I'm over 18 and I still have to live with my parents what's that called

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us. We aren't legal experts here at NRS, but in general, once you turn 18 you are considered a legal adult and can live where you wish. The only exception to this is Nebraska and Alabama where you need to be 19 to be considered a legal adult, and Mississippi where you need to be 21. If for any reason you are unable to take care of yourself your parents can petition adult guardianship and need to be granted guardianship by a court. If you are currently under guardianship and not being taken care of in an appropriate manner, you can contact your state's Adult Protective Services agency.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

hi,
i live with my mom and she treats me like im nothing. my mother has a lot of mental issues, some of which i don't know about. she was molested as a child, in which i think she's gotten messed up from. she's always been a single mother of 4. we all have different fathers. and in april my oldest brother died. everyone is grown up And out of the house with children but im left here alone with her. its really hard sometimes. there's been times where she has gotten physical, the casual arm grab and sometimes her hand around my throat. nothing like that has happened since by brother passed but it still happened. she makes me feel like im worthless and like a nobody. she makes me feel less confident in my self and body. i find myself having suicidal thoughts constantly but i don't know what to do. ive been asking, no not even asking- telling. ive been telling her i need to see a therapist for about 2 years now And still im left without one. i have friends but they don't really know what im going through. i have nobody to tell or talk to about this. ill be turning 18 in january in which i can leave, but im scared. there's so many things that are holding me back to stay. i feel like i owe it to my grandparents to stay & help them since they're getting old. but i feel if i don't leave, i never will. she manipulates me into thinking everything my fault and gets angry if i simply don't do the dishes. she's been telling me she's so thrilled for me to turn 18 And move out since i was 13. i don't know what to do, i just lay here And cry and try to forget the fact that she does these things. i try to be nice to her and act like i care for her even though she dosent for me. is there anything i can do? could she get in trouble if i were to tell someone that im being mentally/emotionally abused. who would i even talk to about these kinda of things And how would i go about doing it. i have no where to go, i have no safe place and i feel like im trapped with her. i don't want to hurt myself but i don't know how to get out.

[ccsmod15]

Hello! Thank you so much for reaching out, we appreciate you seeking help during this difficult time.

To begin with, you mentioned that your mom has gone through a lot in her past, and that there has been time when she has gotten physical with you. No one should have to endure any abuse whether it be physically, emotionally, or mentally. If you find yourself in that situation again, you may look into the possibility to reaching out to your local authorities, and let them know what’s been going on. The National child abuse hotline is a great resource as well to report abuse, and offers services to further better your recent situation, they can be reached anytime at 1800) 422-4453.

In the same way, you mentioned that you’re feeling depressed and are having suicidal thoughts. We care about your mental state as well, and wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. If you ever feel like you need to talk to someone about your depression, you may contact the substance abuse and mental health services hotline at 1800) 662-4357. Another option you could consider would be contacting the national alliance on mental illness at 1800) 950-6264. Furthermore, we understand that you have been trying to reach out for help, and the national suicide prevention hotline may also be another option to consider when you’re having suicidal thoughts, their number is 1800) 273-8255

Lastly, you said that you’re contemplating on leaving home when you turn 18, but are scared since you don’t know where you’ll end up at. We aren’t legal experts, but in most states anyone under 18 is considered a minor, and any legal guardians may file a runaway report with the authorities, and whoever harbors a runaway, may face some legal consequences. Since you’re planning on leaving when you’re 18, an option to explore would be to contact your local non-emergency number, and ask them what the laws and consequences are in your area if you leave home at 18. We want you to be safe, and if at any time you feel like that is at jeopardy, you may text the word safe and your location to 44357. The national safe place will text you a safe location, and a caseworker will be out to assist you. In the same way, you may want to talk to other family members in your area, and see if you could spend a couple of days with them. If you’re really considering on moving out on your own, and the legal age in your area to be considered an adult is anyone above 18, you can try applying for government housing as well as shelters. A great resource for that would be the homeless shelter directory at homelessshelterdirectory.org. The website is a great source for you to look up shelters in your area and contact information for them.

We hope that you can seek help from these options discussed, and want you to know that we care about your safety, you’re not alone in this battle. In fact, you’re really brave for going through this difficult time in your life. If for whatever reason you require additional assistance, or want us to make a call on your behalf, feel free to call us at 1800) 786-2929. Best of luck!

[Guest]

A ton of stuff is going on in my family, I really want to run away. I did not eat breakfast or lunch today. I just went down for dinner, and my parents were eating Costco meatballs, which make me sick. They would not let me eat anything else. So now I'm in my room surviving on Halloween candy and cheetoes. I feel sick and want to throw up. My life sucks. My parents and the people around me are awful people. I can bearly remember anything anymore. I live in my head. I live in a different world. No one leaves me alone. I can't make friends. I can't live a life. I can't control anything. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I just want to go. I'm really depressed cause I just listened to Friend, Please by Twenty-One-Pilots and can't stop crying. My parents say I make them mad. That it's my fault. I never remember what happened, So I believe them. It's always my fault. Always all the time. But I know It's not me. But I have no memories to prove it. I haven't slept much for weeks now so I doubt that helps any.

I just want to get away from everyone yelling at me. I want to live a normal life. I want to run away, but after reading about all this stuff on these forums, I feel really guilty, but I really want to leave. What do I do?

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. You mentioned that you had to skip 2 meals and were physically unable to eat the only meal offered that day. If your immediate needs (food, shelter, safety) aren't being met you can report this to child protective services. If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/.

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. If you have a place to go in mind, 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 sexual and labor exploitation. This can all influence your decision to leave.

It seems like your parents aren't fully understanding you when you are trying to relay your thoughts and feelings about your current situation at home. 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