if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

[Unregistered]

Help

If I run away, and the police come to the place I am staying, do I have to tell them who I am if they ask?

[ccsmod7]

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

Thanks for reaching out in regards to your questions. It sounds like you may be thinking of running away but you are concerned if the police come to where you are staying what they can do. If you are under the age of 18 your parent/guardian would have the right to make a runaway report if you did leave. Usually with a runaway report the police are given identifying information as well as a current picture. So even if you didn’t tell them who you were they may be able to identify you through that information. Usually if there is a runaway report and a youth is found the police generally just bring them back home.

If you did go to stay with someone else do you think your parent/guardian would know where you are? While we can’t give you specific advice on what to do there is always someone available to provide support, discuss options, and even find resources in your area. If you would like to talk with someone more in depth about this situation there is someone available 24 hours a day at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We also have an online chat service that is available from 4:30p to 11:30p CST. All of our services are completely confidential and anonymous. Please feel free to contact us anytime. Take care.

[Unregistered]

Hello

Hii ive bien living with my father for 3 years and its bien hell my mom made me come here because she wanted time to move somewhere better so i can get and education etc ive ran away 3 times and my mom try to take me back once thinking she still had full costudy my dad said i can leave when i m16 and is now changeing his mind but im sick of his always yelling at me and putting me down like im nothing and always getting grounded for dumb reasons i dont ever fight back when i know hes right but when hes wrong i go insane and i dont know what to do i want to run away but im afraid if i do the person i go to would get in trouble along with myself i feel like rock bottom is headed my way

[ccsmod8]

re: hello

Hi there and thanks so much for reaching out to us. It sounds like you are really upset with how things are at home right now with your dad and we are so glad you found us. From what you shared about having runaway a few times before, it seems like this yelling and putting down has been happening for awhile. It can be so hard to live in a home when someone makes you upset like that and you must be very strong to continue with him. Have you ever tried talking with your dad about how you feel? Hitting “rock bottom” sounds pretty intense. Is there anyone that you feel you can reach out to for support?

You asked some questions about what can happen if you runaway. Although we are not legal experts, we can tell you that if you runaway in most places before the age of 18, your parent/guardian can file a runaway report on you and have you picked up by the police and brought home. In most places, running away is considered a status offense and is not necessarily against the law. Harboring a runaway, or letting a runaway stay with you, is in most places considered against the law and can be a criminal offense. What that means is that while you might not get into much trouble necessarily, whoever you stay with might.

If you have other questions or want to talk more about your situation, we are here to support you 24 hours a day at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat with us from 4:30-11:30pm CST through our website.

[Unregistered]

Hello,
I'm 16 with an 11 month old son. I'm ready to runaway from home and live with my child's father's dad. I currently work part time and attend an online school. I've looked into emancipation laws and I am still afraid that I wont be able to obtain emancipation. My father has full entire custody of me and is verbally and emotionally abusive. I've thought of filing a CPS report but Im too afraid that my child and I will go to a foster home. My father and I have tried counseling and talking through our issues but nothings changing. Hes diagnosed with PTSD and bipolarity and its getting much harder to deal with. I need to know what I can do to leave home and not be returned if the cops do get involved.

[Unregistered]

Im gone

I ran away about two months ago and I am nervous about getting caught. Because my mom is telling everyone im being beat and I dont have clothes or anything like that. But I am properly being taken care of and my step dad tells me innapropiate things and my mom is a druggie and my brothers are being neglected but my mom is slick and when cps is called to the house she manipulates the boys and my step dad is very dangerous and I cant be there I dont feel safe and I feel either I get locked up or I deal with leaving the house and having to look over my shoulder. What do I so?

[ccsmod1]

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

Hello,
We are glad that you reached out for us for help. It sounds like you are in a difficult situation right now. Nobody deserves to be abused. We are very sorry to hear that this is happening to you. It sounds like you have tried to work through things with your father through counseling, but that it hasn’t worked. It is understandable that you would be afraid to go to a foster home. That must be really scary. If you do decide to make an abuse report, we can help you. If you call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929), we can walk you through the process, answer any questions you might have, and make the abuse report if you want us to. If you do not want to make an abuse report, we will not make one as long as you don’t share your name or address. All of our services are completely confidential, and we are available 24 hours a day by phone or you can reach us through the live chat on this website between 4:30pm and 11:30pm Central Standard Time.
You mentioned emancipation. If you are considering emancipation, we can help you find legal advice. It might help to talk to a lawyer. We can help you locate a legal aid service in your area that might be able to help for a reduced fee or for free if you qualify. If you are thinking about leaving home without permission and without seeking emancipation, we can help you figure out what your next steps will be. It can be very scary to leave home. When you call or chat us, we can help you find resources, answer any questions you might have, and listen and support you in any way that we can. Nobody deserves to be treated badly and abused in their home. We are here to take your call 24/7. We are looking forward to hearing from you and seeing what we can do for you and for your child.
Best of luck,
NRS

[ccsmod6]

re: Im gone

I ran away about two months ago and I am nervous about getting caught. Because my mom is telling everyone im being beat and I dont have clothes or anything like that. But I am properly being taken care of and my step dad tells me innapropiate things and my mom is a druggie and my brothers are being neglected but my mom is slick and when cps is called to the house she manipulates the boys and my step dad is very dangerous and I cant be there I dont feel safe and I feel either I get locked up or I deal with leaving the house and having to look over my shoulder. What do I so?

Hi

Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear about the things that you have been going through. It sounds like you ran away because you didn’t feel safe at home. It seems that CPS has been contacted in the past without any findings of neglect and/or abuse. Are you currently staying somewhere safe? We are non-direct and are unable to provide advice. However we can discuss possible options. It is sometimes best to contact us directly via our 24/7 hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY or Live Chat between 4:30pm and 11:30pm CST. Obtaining more information (i.e. age, location, etc) may help us when discussing your options.

If you are not in a safe place, we can assist you with trying to get to the nearest safe place. We can help with making calls to nearby resources. Our hotline is anonymous, confidential, and toll-free. We hope you are able to give us a call. If not, you can continue to seek assistance via our bulletin boards, email and/or chat.

Best Wishes
~NRS

[Unregistered]

if i have a place to go and my parents have already told me if they could put me out

I'm 15. I'll be 16 in a month I have a friend that will take me in the mom said yes. If my dad has told me he doesn't want me in the house and that if i wanted to run away he wouldn't stop me and that he wants to sign his rights away can i leave with a friend and if they call the cops will i have to go back home if the place im staying at is safe.

[ccsmod10]

RE: If I have a place to go and my parents have already told me if they could put me

Hello there,

Thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you have a safe place to stay and your dad is willing to let you move in with your friend. Although we are not legal experts, it sounds like you are talking about emancipation. Emancipation is typically a process that takes time and money, however if your dad is willing to help it can greatly speed up the process. Emancipation would protect you from being reported as a runaway if he changed his mind later. It would also allow you to enroll in school, and take care of your own finances.

Here at the National Runaway Safeline we cannot tell you what you should or should not do. We can however provide you with legal aid referrals and get you in contact with any other resources that will help you leave safely and legally. We can be reached at any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or by live chat at www.1800runaway.org from 4:30pm-11:30pm Central Standard Time. We look forward to hearing from you and wish you the best of luck.

- NRS

[Unregistered]

parnets kicked me out and now are trying to say im a runway

me and my parents got into a fight and they sent me away to live with my sister that i love and is taking good care of me. she also been teaching me a lot bout taking care of my self by getting me a job and me paying for my own phone bills and clothes but 3 months later my parents bought me a plan ticket not telling me about it in till i got a email and now they want me to comeback home. but i don't want to i got a job friends finally with my sister that was token away from me when i was three and taking AP classes and preparing for my future to be come officer in the air force by taking JROTC classes and i told them i don't want to come home because i know it will happen again its the second time and my life is to perfect right now but they said if i don't get on the plane they would call the cops on me and say i was a runaway. can they really do that is my question?

[ccsmod2]

Hi,

Thanks for contacting us today. It sounds like you've really loved living with your sister and that things are going great out there for you. It's great that you've adjusted so well to being sent away from your parent's house.

We're not legal experts here at NRS, but if you are a minor (under 18 in most states), your parents could file a runaway report. Your parents initially did send you away to live with your sister, but if they want you to come home and you don't, you could technically still be considered a runaway.

Have you considered asking your parents if you could keep staying with your sister? Here at NRS we offer conference calls where we can act as support on the phone if you feel uncomfortable talking to your parents by yourself about the situation. Sometimes having outside support can be helpful (your sister can also possibly help out in talking with your parents). We can talk a little bit more about how you can approach your parents about staying with your sister, or possibly what needs to change at home to make living with your parents easier for you. It sounds like your future and education are really important to you- so we can look at ways that you can continue on the same path if you do return back home to your parents.

We have an online chat service from 4:30-11:30 pm central time if you feel comfortable talking via the computer. You can also call us at any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY, we are 24/7 and always willing to listen and help as much as we can. Thanks again for reaching out to us today.

~NRS

[princess]

i wont to just leave

What i call the police on me an got to jail do you think they van take me jail....

Oh can i just leave foreva in a hiding spot that she dont know can the catch me then

Or is it possible for me to just go away

[ccsmod10]

RE: if I ruanway can my mom call the cops?

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you’re in a very scary situation. If you have already run away from home, there are safe places and shelters you can go temporarily. Technically it is not against the law for you to run away from home. In most states it is considered a status offence. However, anyone you would be caught staying with could possibly be charged with ‘harboring a runaway’. Do you have a safe place to go?

You also mentioned that you want to go some place. As long as you are considered a minor your legal guardians are responsible for you. If home is not a safe option for you, we would be more than happy to discuss other options with you. We are available for you 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929) or by live chat at www.1800ruanway.org from 4:30pm-11:30pm Central Standard Time. We look forward to hearing from you and wish you the best of luck.

- NRS

[Unregistered]

Hi im 17 years of age and I want to move out is that ok