im 17 and i want to run away, could my parents call the cops and have me arrested?

[Unregistered]

17 tired of the bull

Im 17 i live in arkansas i have a place i can go but its in california if a freind drives me there will he or i get in trouble for leaving the state ( he is 18 ) i have been abused for years even through what was thought to be terminal illnes and i have had enough it ranges any were from phyysical to verbal abuse i have had fist fights with my mom and hurt her in self defense once and we recently just had an awefull blow up and she turned my family against me so i need to leave

[ccsmod8]

re: 17 and tired of the bull

We're glad that you reached out to us at NRS. It sounds like you have gone through a lot. You said that you have been abused physically and verbally by your mother. That must be really hurtful. Nobody deserves to be treated that way. One option that you have is to report that abuse to the department of children and family services. In California, the abuse hotline numbers vary by county, so you can always call us and we can find that number for you or even call together.

You asked if you or your friend would get in trouble for going to California. We are not legal experts. However, it is possible that your friend could get into trouble for crossing state lines with a minor. Running away is what is called a ‘status’ offence. That means that you won’t be charged with a crime just for being reported as a runaway. However, since your friend is 18, he could get in trouble for taking you, and the people who you stay with in California could possibly get in trouble for harboring a runaway.

If you would like someone to talk to about your options, you could call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY 24/7 or live chat us from our website, www.1800RUNAWAY.org from 4:30-11:30pm Central Standard Time. We could help you decide what you want to do and offer you resources. It sounds like you are going through a really hard time. We hope that we can help you out. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best of luck,
NRS

[Unregistered]

I want to leave

Is it runaway if your parents know were you are and know your safe?

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us and telling us about what is going on. It sounds like you are thinking about running away and it’s great that you have contacted us. While we aren’t legally trained here, we can give you some general ideas and resources that may be able to help you out. We also wouldn’t be able to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do.

It sounds like you are thinking of running away from home and are concerned about your parents finding out. Generally speaking, if you are under 18 years old, you are still considered to be a minor so your parents are responsible for you. Therefore, if you leave home without their consent or knowledge, your parents may have the option to file a runaway report with the police. Also, if they know where you are staying, those people may also get into trouble for harboring a runaway. One place that may be able to tell you exactly is the police because they are the ones who would respond. If you are hesitant about calling them, you can call us here and we can help you make that call. We also have a database of resources such as shelters or legal aid if you are interested in any of those.

You can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) and we are completely confidential and anonymous. We also have online chat services that are available from 4:30 PM-11:30 PM (CST) if you would like to talk with us that way and you can find that on our website (www.1800runaway.org).

We look forward to hearing from you and wish you the best of luck.

~NRS

[Unregistered]

17 year old, Wanting to move out, in waco Texas,

hi, I'm wondering if I leave on my own w/o permission could my mother call the police and file a runaway report on me? I turn 18 in a few months but right now I can't deal with being in my household. ive been wanting to leave since I was 13, me and my mother dont get along. well at all we have our moments my father is dead since i was 3 so as being a single mom and having 3 kids and my younger sisyer having a kid its stressfull money is tight bearly getting by but Ive been abused and verbally abused, and punished for basically nothing, my mother puts the stress she has on me like its my responsibility it stresses me out more but all this has been going on for so long & lately it's just been getting worse I've been hit on for a simple yes or no question, Im ready to leave and have a stable home to go to and be independent, but I dont want to have that risk of being sent back home and everything gets worse. please help me.

[ccsmod4]

17 wanting to move out in Waco,Tx.

Hello,
Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.
It sounds like you have had quite a struggle at home.
We are very sorry to hear that you have been abused no one deserves to be hit and you are not at fault for someone else’s actions.

In answer to your question if you are still considered a minor in your state then yes your mother can file a runaway report on you.
Most states set the legal age for adulthood at eighteen and yes Texas is one of those states.
We can understand your sense of urgency to leave such a hostile environment you deserve to have a place of comfort to live and some peace of mind.

It sounds like you are taking measures to be safe. Good for you.
You can contact your local police department’s non-emergency number for more specific information about any consequences you might face by leaving home before you turn eighteen.

We are available to speak and go over possible options in regards to your situation. You may contact us through our toll free 24hr crisis line:1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or www.1800Runaway.org for the NRS Live Chat service available from 4:30pm until 11:30pm (CST)

Since there are indications of child abuse; have you ever considered filing a child abuse report?
We can assist you in doing so or you can contact the referral listed below to do so.
Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453

We can also assist you in locating services for counseling or emergency shelter.
Does that make sense?

You have the right to feel safe and without fear of being hit.

We appreciate your time and effort to contact NRS.
Take Care