Arkansas minor runaway laws.

[Guest]

im 13. and i get verbally abused at home and my step dad hurts my mom. if i run away and go to stay with a friend do i have to go back with my mom?

[ccsmod15]

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.
You mentioned experiencing emotional abuse which may be reportable against your mom. Please keep in mind you by no means deserve any type of abuse, emotional or otherwise. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often harder to provide evidence for compared to physical abuse which is often what CPS relies on when conducting an abuse investigation. That said, we can’t be 100% sure what the outcome will be if your local CPS decides to open a case based on what you share. Sometimes CPS decides to remove minors from the home and other times they offer services such as family counseling or mediation instead. The only way to know the outcome might be to reach out to them directly and if you’re ready to do that we are here to help you through that process. Reaching out to Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 or www.childhelp.org may help to get a better understanding of what may happen before and after a report is made.
We hope this helps. Please reach out if we can offer any further support.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

What will happen it a minor runs away to another staye

[ccsmod15]

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]

So I have a niece and nephew who ran away because their grandparents physically abuse them and also my niece is being sexually malested by her grandfather he threatened them if they leave he would blow their brains out but don’t want to get anyone involved because we want to make sure they are removed from the house the same day so their grandpa won’t harm them what should they do?

[ccsmod15]

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 your friend is faced with right now and you’re wanting to find a way to help them as they mentioned wanting to report the abuse or to run away. It’s great that your niece/nephew has support and concern from you especially since this time is quite difficult for them.
It sounds things at home right now are bad for them and you are worried about them being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. They don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If they 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. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to this situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
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 unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

is it called runaway if my niece and nephew run away with their mother? They lived with grandparents who don’t have legal custody of them. But their mother is on child support for them is that still considered as a runaway?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws. 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 forum 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).

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Ok I have a step with physiological issues just out of his fourth facility he falsely reported a abuse because he was mad CPS is going to recommend a long program and today after we told him to do the dishes he ran to grandma's house and she refuses to return him home with his recent anger out burst she wouldn't be able to handle it being70 and recently having a pace maker put in. And with PD they didn't want to do anything about it

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are here to listen and help as best as we can. It sounds like you are going through a really tough time dealing with a youth with tough mental health issues and constant anger outbursts.
You did the right first step of reaching out to the police department and it seems odd that they would not do anything regarding the youth considering that him being gone from the home without consent qualifies him as a runaway which is a status offence. Usually police have the authority to go to where the youth is, even if it is other family, and return them to the home. It might be worth reaching out to the non-emergency line to file a runaway report first then direct them to their grandma’s house.
Most states have a Minor/Child In Need of Supervision (MINS/CHINS) program through the courts for situations similar to this where a youth is out of control. Another good resource is www.missingkids.org/TeamHOPE which is specifically for parents and is to support you through this kind of difficult situation.
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]

Hi, I Have A Serious Questions. I'm 14 and My Father Is Emotionally Abusing My Mother and I. I Live In Arkansas but I wondered If I Were To Runaway To Another State With Someone Else. How Long Would The Police Look For Me ? Is It Illegal To Run Away To Another Sate ? Will The Person Helping Me Get Arrested ? Will My Parents Be Punished For My Disappearance ? What Will Happen With School ? Could I Go To School As A Whole Different Person While Being Runaway ? If I Got Others Involed, Would That Put Them In Risk ? Will I Ever Be Free From The Police If I Ran Away ?

[ccsmod8]

Hello there,

We're glad you reached out to us. We'll try to help. It's unfortunate that your father abuses you and your mother. You don't deserve to be treated that way. You deserve to be loved and taken care of in your home. It's understandable that you would want to run away from such an environment.

We are not legal experts but we know that running away is not a crime. However, if you run away and your parents file a runaway report, the police will look for you. If they find you, they will return you to your home. It is possible that the people who took you in will be charged with harboring a minor. If you want to explore the option of reporting the abuse that happens at home you always have the option of reporting it to your local child protective services. A hotline that might be helpful to give you more information about what could happen or what information you might need to report is "Child Help Hotline". You can reach them at 1800-422-4453 or online at childhelp.org. They have a live chat.

Only you know yourself when it’s time to leave home due to it being an unsafe situation. If you can't stay at home for any reason, we might also be able to look in our database to see if there were any youth shelters or safe places that you might be able to go to if you need some local support. There might be places near to you under the agency "National Safe Place" (https://www.nationalsafeplace.org/find-a-safe-place). You can also talk to us if you like at 1800-RUNAWAY. If you have more questions you can also call us or chat with us online. You deserve to live in a safe home.

Good luck!

[Guest]

Hi im 15 and i want to runaway from my parrents. My dads a narcassist and he takes care of my disabled mom so she goes along with everything he says. Anytime she were to disagree he would berate her then me. he callls me his little greedy smurf and other names like dumb and fat. I just dont want to live there anymore i want to runaway to my big sisters house or something like that. They said the police would arrest me if i did runaway and that when my sister tried to report them for abuse when she lived with them the cop told her that he would whoop her himself if he could. whas that true or was the cop out of line. anyone what would happen if i ran away is all im asking.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at NRS and we appreciate you sharing a bit about your situation. 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. Running away is not illegal, so you would not be arrested.

You mentioned that a police officer threatened to "whoop" your sister who reported your parents for abuse. We are so sorry you and your sister were failed by that police officer. It is the job of police and child protective services to take abuse seriously and keep you safe. It might be helpful to report directly to child protective services if reporting the abuse is still something you are interested in. Child Help is an organization that advocates for children in unsafe or dangerous situations. They can tell you more about the reporting process and help you make a report. You can contact them at www.childhelp.org or call at 1-800-422-4453.

Additionally, you can always reach out again by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or through live chat at 1800runaway.org if you would like to talk more about your situation. We are here 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Is my daughter a runaway or what would you call her or is everything that she and her biological father are doing legal in the state of Arkansas with him being a sexual offender and being in the child now treatment for sexual misconduct with the child the 16-year-old daughter that is with him or is there any way or anything I need to do or anybody I need to talk to or somebody to call or get a hold of that can help me with such confusion
My daughter is 16 years old my daughter is 16 years old and she decided that she doesn't have to come home as of yesterday yesterday is the day that she was supposed to return home the night before last night she was I was asked by law enforcement to if I would be willing to give her permission to leave with her stepmother to go to her biological father's house I did not want to Grant her that permission I did reluctantly say that it was not up to me I do have custody of her I am her legal guardian however I did not feel comfortable saying that yes it was okay for her to go to his house specifically with him being a registered sex offender however law enforcement said it would be the best but for her so that she can go on for the night and return tomorrow after everything has cooled down and cooled off all of us well we all did that and yesterday was the day that she was supposed to come home however she's not coming home she is not here and she's told me that she does not have to but I do have legal custody and he is not granted any kind of custody except for visitational rights and I do believe our divorce degree says supervise visitational rights therefore I am anxious to know is or can my daughter be accounted for as a runaway she has numerous times threatened herself bodily harm as well as threatened us in the household me as her mother her brothers she has also threatened her boyfriend that is not within this household she does have psychiatric evaluations in the past and up for treatment however she denies to receive treatment and she denies to take her medication that she is supposed to or psychiatric purposes I cannot get anybody to give me any straight answers on what I need to do or what am I supposed to do or what can I do to help my daughter get out of this situation or how can I get her into a better situation where she can get help but yet get out of the situation she is over there because she may not want to agree and she will disagree but there are plenty plenty times where we have on record from all of her the doctors in the past psychiatric Doctors and therapists and counselors DHS all agree that that is not a suitable home for her he is not a suitable parent or legal guardian for any teenage daughter and he was placed in the now treatment registry for sexual misconduct on his daughter the one I'm having severe issues with is there anybody that knows anything or anybody that how do I get information or is there anybody that I just don't know what to do I don't know if there's anything I can do or who do I call who do I talk to and it doesn't help the factor that the one and only vehicle I do have for transportation to go and pick her up or request for her to be picked up or for an officer to meet me to pick her up one and only vehicle I have is broke down it is being worked on yet they do have working vehicles because they came and picked her up night before last night

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,

Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. Wow, it seems like you are going through a really difficult time, and we want you to know that you are not alone.

We are not legal experts but in some cases, a registered sex offender cannot be around minors unsupervised. You can always call your local police department to find out the rules regarding this. Also in most states the legal age to leave home without permission is 18 years old. You can file a runaway report by calling your local police department. Most likely your daughter would be returned home to you.

If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

I know a 17 yr old that lives with his grandparents court ordered because of his parents splitting up and at that time was best for him and lil sister. 17 yr old and his grandpa and grandma got into a argument and he swung at grandpa. Also this 17 yr old experienced a horrible horrible tragedy a yr ago today and that was seeing his best friend since birth kill himself right in front of 17 yr old. So emotionally I could only imagine, but is a strong individual for copeing as well as has. But since the argument 17 yr old got sent to ***** hospital in *******. For trying to overdose on some kind of pills was in there like 2 weeks not even. Grandparents went and picked 17 ur old up and when got back to house ran out back door. Grandpa is also accusing 17 yr old of numerous things as in stealing ammunition and selling and getting money out of safe not sure of what all 17 yr old is being accused of to be honest.. but my question is can a person get in trouble for letting 17 yr old stay with them? I understand 17yr old need to go back and face whatever they are accusing him of by all means,. I've known 17 yr old since in diapers also my 16 yr olds best friend. So like my own child is what I consider ,. But why I am concerned is I know he emotionally unstable more than anybody knows. I couldnt live with myself if anything was to happen so giving that kid a safe place to get thoughts together and be safe and sleep and eat. Would I get in trouble for that kid staying with me so 17 yr old is for sure safe and not on streets hungry and more vulnerable and exceptionanol to harming self.

[ccsmod3]

Hey there. Thanks for contacting us here at NRS. We know that it can be difficult to see someone we care about having a tough time, and we commend you for trying to determine the best ways to offer support.

Generally speaking, the best way to avoid any potential legal ramifications in letting a minor stay with you is to get consent from the parents or legal guardians. It sounds like there may be room for this based off of some of the issues that he's been having with his grandparents, so initiating that conversation with them might be a good starting point. And while it looks like your state does not have a specific law pertaining to the harboring of runaways, contributing to the delinquency of a minor IS considered a crime. A person contributes to delinquency when that person aids, causes or encourages a minor to, among other things, be habitually absent from home without good or sufficient cause and without the consent of his guardian. Harboring a runaway may fall within this category.

If consent is not given by his grandparents and you're still concerned about getting into trouble, consulting with a legal professional would be an appropriate step to take from there.

Thank you again for reaching out and for trying to offer your support to this young person. You're making a difference!

NRS

[Guest]

I am 17 turning 18 this October. My parents put me through a lot of emotional guilt and I'm feeling very overwhelmed and sad. My mom degrades me and my dad backs her up. I'm wanting to leave for a week or two with a trusted friend and her family. They can continue to take me to school and her family is ok with me staying. I dont want to upset my parents but at the same time I want to do what is best for me. My parents are not ok with me leaving, what should 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. It can be disheartening to feel so frequently overwhelmed. 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 parents 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.

It seems like your parents don't fully understand how their actions are making you feel. 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 at 1-800-RUNAWAY and we can set up a conference call with your parents so one of our trained crisis workers can act as a mediator.

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

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

If a 17 year old runs away with 6 months until they turn 18 would the law force the 17 year old to go home?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us here at NRS. It sounds like you are thinking about leaving and want to know more about runaway laws. While we are not legal experts, we can speak generally about what might happen.

18 is usually the age you are able to leave home without permission. If you leave home as minor, your parents have the option to report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. While you would not be arrested, police can return you home if you are found. Runaway protocols can vary by state, county, and even police department. Some police are more lenient with older youth and may not force you home. To learn more about the runaway policy in your area, you can call the local police department's non-emergency line to ask questions about your situation.

We hope this information is useful. Please do reach out anytime by phone or live chat if you would like to talk more! 1-800-RUNAWAY; 1800runaway.org

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17, have a job, graduated with my GED. My guardian who has complete guardianship of me is mentally abusive but I don’t think it’s really enough to file an abuse report. She gives me anxiety, depression, sleeping, and eating issues. I’ve been looking for a way out, I’d like to contact a lawyer and take it to court for emancipation but I don’t have money for a lawyer. Any way I can leave without her permission? (I live in Arkansas)

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for reaching out to NRS. It seems like you are going through a great deal. While mental abuse is more difficult to "prove," you totally deserve to be in a safe and validating environment.

We would love to check out if Arkansas has any free to cheap legal aid resources. We are not legal experts, however to our knowledge emancipation may be lengthy, but it still could be worth checking out. If you choose to leave home, your guardian could file a runaway report. This means, if the police were to find you, they would most likely return you back home. However, 17 can be a gray area. It could be possible that they choose to not investigate or follow-up because you are so close to being 18 and seem to be pretty independent already. The best way to find out how police would handle your situation is to directly contact your local non-emergency police line. This is something we could help you do if you gave us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us through our website, 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.

Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Can a minor get in trouble for letting a runaway minor stay with them?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS).
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 forum 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]

Okay so a lot of domestic violence is going on in the house I live in. My stepmom is so clinically crazy she can’t sign any documents which means she can’t leave no matter how hard my dad tries to make her. She has caused a lot of physical pain and mental pain to me. My father is unable to do anything about it and recently the physical has gotten worse. I have a place to stay I’ll be safe and I am 17. If they look for me and say I have to come back I will refuse and explain everything to them but my question is if I run away VOLUNTARILY what can they do?

[ccsmod16]

HI, thank for reaching out; we are glad that you did. It sounds like things are really awful and scary for you at home with domestic violence and mental illness, it's understandable to want to leave. Maybe you can talk to your dad and he can consent for you to get into long-term shelter, called a Transitional Living Program, or TLP. We can search in our database to see if one is available where you live. Or, since he knows what is happening to you, you can ask him not to file a runaway report (which is the only way police would be involved) and give you written permission to be with your friends.
To discuss this further, please reach out to our live services at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or via live chat through this website. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

So my friend has severe mental health problems. He has intense anxiety and depression and lately, almost committed suicide. His parents are terrible. They are homophobic and recently found out he's gay. They are rude, ignorant, and quite frankly, crazy. His mother ven threatened his 15-14 y/o friends. I've tried helping him many times, getting him medicine or therapy, buying him a new phone so that he contact his friends, and trying my best to just listen. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm not helping enough. I'd like to help run away from his emotionally abusive and mentally exhausting parents, but I don't know if that's legal. He is 15, living in the state of Arkansas, and has recently been going through a lot of terrible things...even more so than usual. Can I let him live with me without getting my single (widowed) dad in trouble? Is it legal to get him therapy without the consent of one of his guardians? Basically, how can I help him without hurting him even more in the process? Because I know he needs help, I just don't know where to start.

[ccsmod5]

We are glad you reached out to us for help and support. You are being an amazing friend and it is obvious how much you care and how much you want to help. Your friend is in a very difficult and stressful situation and it sounds like he might need more support and help than you can provide right now.

Let’s start with some of the basics. It is not illegal for your friend to run away. It may however be a problem for you to help him or your Dad to harbor him. Every jurisdiction has its own policies on enforcement and some don’t enforce that unless it becomes a chronic issue and the parents object. If your friend runs away and your Dad provides him a place to stay for the short term it most likely would not be a problem. If your friend’s parents say it is ok he could stay longer.

In regards to getting him therapy without parental consent, that can also be tricky. You would need to get a legal opinion from an attorney to understand all the applicable laws in Arkansas. We can help you find legal aide in your community if needed.

You can let your friend know that he can contact us anytime 24/7 via a chat through our website or call us on our crisis hotline at (800) RUNAWAY. Both are completely confidential. There are a lot of resources to help him with his mental health issues and his unsafe home life with his family. We can discuss programs and services that can provide help and support included shelters, transitional living, gay support groups and mental health programs.

If your friend feels he needs to get out immediately he can always call the police at 911 or social services for help. We can and want to help your friend. Thank you for supporting your friend and contacting us.