16 running away in CT

[ccsmod1]

Reply from NRS

Thanks for sharing. It sounds like you are in a really difficult situation right now. Since you are under the age of 18, if you leave you could be considered a runaway. This means that your legal guardian could call the police, who might force you to return home. Since you are not living with your legal guardian, the police might force you to go back where your legal guardian says to go. It sounds like you are in a complicated situation with your family right now. We are here to listen and support you however we can. Running away is not a crime, however anyone who allows you to stay with them could risk criminal charges for harboring a runaway. We are not legal experts, so we can only speak generally about what your options are, but we can’t predict what will happen in your situation specifically. Laws are different from state to state, county to county, city to city. In some areas, police might not take a runaway report for youth who are close to turning 18, or they might take a report but not force a youth to return home. How a local police department responds to the situation can vary drastically. A good way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are. If you need help figuring out a plan to stay safe, don’t hesitate to call. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

[Guest]

Im 15 years old and i live in Connecticut im in a situation where i need to decide to bring dcf in my situation, get emancipated, or leave home without parents consent. I can't get dcf involved bc i need to look out for my little sister and I already theres a huge chance i won't get emancipated when I do turn 16. I don't want to leave again bc of my sister but im personally being neglected at home and I want to run away but don't know how. I have a boyfriend but he's 18 so I can't stay with him or even be with him till im 16 and I don't even want to get him in trouble because i know already my mom would try and get then in trouble for keeping me there. Im looking for whats best for me and whats best for everyone else I don't even have any other friends so theres no other place I can go to and untop of that theres no shelters where I live I don't know what to do anymore and all I know is I need to leave home because I can't handle it anymore.

[ccsmod16]

Hi, thanks for reaching out! It sounds like you are in a really tough situation. You do not deserve to be neglected or abused in any way for that matter. You do have the right to report any abuse or neglect or to get help in finding a safe adult. One number that can help get custody transferred to someone safe or make an abuse report is Child Help: 1-800-422-4453 childhelp.org. We can conference call with you because we know making a call like that can be scary.
It sounds like you are really brave and have endured a lot. It is kind of you to think of others. If you do leave without parental permission, your parents could call the police. It is not illegal to runaway but it is a status offense, meaning you can’t do it because of your age. If the police were to find you and they saw you were a runaway, they would likely return you home or get DCFS involved if you disclosed the neglect.
It is smart of you to think of all the possibilities. You sound like you are really informed. Staying with your boyfriend could potentially backfire if you are filed as a runaway, you are right with that. Anyone who is legally an adult is at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway if the police can prove the adult knew you were a runaway and allowed you to stay there.
Your safety is our priority and we want to make sure you do what is best for you. You are always free to call us 24/7 or chat with us on our website in the evenings completely confidentially. We never ask for your name. You may also consider talking to someone at school, a neighbor, another family member, or some adult you know. Sometimes having another adult you trust and can talk to can really help. Just be aware that a lot of adults are what are called mandated reporters, meaning if you tell them you are being neglected, they have to call DCFS. We also offer conference calling with parents so if you think having a conversation with your parents would be helpful and would like a neutral third party you can always call us and we can conference call and serve as an advocate on the phone with you.
Calling 911 is always an option too if you are in immediate danger.
You are really strong and caring for thinking of your sister and looking for your best options. Please feel free to call anytime. We are here 24/7 and we are here to listen and help you.

[Guest]

I am 16 yr old from Terryville CT and I live with my step mom and father. He controls my life and threatens to take my boyfriend away if I do not follow his every word.. He yells at me a lot and I'm tired of it.. What would happen if I got caught running away.

[ccsmod7]

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are dealing with a difficult home life, and we are sorry to hear you are frustrated with your living arrangement. We do have a conference call service here it NRS if you ever want to have a mediated conversation with your dad. You deserve to be heard.

We are by no means legal experts, but hopefully these few facts will be of help. Running away is not illegal, but since you are under the age of 18, your legal guardians could file a runaway report. If you were to encounter law enforcement, they would legally have to return you home.

We strongly encourage you to call in or live chat with us if you want to talk about your situation more and brainstorm/explore options.

Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

This isn't a reply it's a question my son asked if a friend could stay over last night I said yes, today I asked him some questions and he told me that in 9 months he has been in 9 different foster homes and now he is waiting for a new foster home and until one comes along he is staying with different friends. I do not know what to do it doesn't sound right he is only 16 years old. He just turned 16, this is a weird situation how do you put a kid on the street with no money, no way to support himself and no where to live.

[ccsmod5]

Hi! It sounds like you're handling a very difficult situation. It seems like your heart is in the right place here. This kid's living situation sounds very difficult and could be hard for others to comprehend. Unfortunately, in many instances, being in the system can look like what your son's friend is going through. It is quite possible he has been in that many homes in as many months and he could just be crashing with friends until he gets a new foster home. You are clearly a very compassionate person and I'm sure he appreciated that while he was staying with you. You could consider allowing him to stay with you until he does get a new foster home, he may appreciate that. Best of luck to you and thank you again for writing in. Best of luck.

[Guest]

I'm a parant of a 16 year old who allowed to go to CT for vacation with friends family he left that house 2 day ago and now is refusing to come back to school where he live and won't go-to he friend s house either is he consider a runway now

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes courage to seek help. We are sorry to hear that your child refuses to come back home. Since he is under 18 and refuses to return home, he could be considered a runaway. You could contact your local police to file a runaway report on him. If the police find your son, they would return him back home. We hope this information helps, please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat if you have any questions or just want to talk.

[Guest]

My boyfriend is 16 and he wants to move out of his abusiva house but doesn’t want his parents to file him as a runaway, is there a way that can prevent them from filling him as a runaway?

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. We are not legal experts, but because your boyfriend is 16 and thus a minor, if he leaves home his parents have the right to file him as a runaway and he could be returned home if found. The only ways to leave home without that possibility would be if he got permission to leave or if he was emancipated. He could also report the abuse and that could possibly change the way his runaway report was handled or CPS may choose to remove him from his home. If you want more information about abuse reporting, emancipation, or want to talk through other options with a liner, don'r hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or you could pass our number along to him. We are here 24/7 and can provide things like legal aid numbers or just a listening ear.

Good luck,

NRS

[Guest]

I mentor a 14 year old girl who ran away from home. Is there anything I can do to help her.

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you care a lot about your mentee, which is great. Thank you for trying to advocate for her. Without knowing too much about the situation, we would just encourage you or your mentee to reach out to us by phone at 1-800-786-2929. We can help her locate resources for shelter, file an abuse report if necessary, or help her figure out her options.

--NRS

[Guest]

could a 17 year old in connecticut be arrested or returned home? and the person is adopted

[ccsmod0]

Hello,
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 are not legal experts nor are we affiliated with the police so we can only speak generally about what could happen if a youth leaves home without the consent of a guardian. Leaving home without parental consent (running away) is not a crime, so the police will not arrest you. If you do leave home without permission your guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. Running away is not a crime it is a status offence (something that only a minor can get in trouble for: truancy, buying cigarettes, etc.) this means that if you have any interaction with the police they will simply return you home. On the other hand the people that you are found to be staying with could face legal consequences that vary depending on your state. You can find out more about how runaway’s reports are carried out by contacting your local police department.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. If there is anything that you think we can do to help, please let us know.
Best wishes,
NRS

[Guest]

If I'm 16 in foster care in Ct can I leave to my friends if my biological mother agrees and she hasn't custody of me but I'm in care

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. We are not legal experts but we do have general information on the laws. Because you are a minor and in foster care if you were to leave without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report, if the police do find you they most likely would bring you home.
There are more options then leaving that we can help you explore. Please give us a call we are here 24/7. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I have a question my son brought a friend over he stayed the night so next day I asked when he was going home n they told me he is 15 and ran away from home he told me his mom n step dad put hands on him often n he is tired if being hit what can I do to help him n not get in trouble I already have legal problem with my son but can't throw him out in the cold thanks

[ccsmod0]

Hello,

You mentioned some things that raise concern for his safety and well-being. If any harm or abuse is happening at his home, you have the right to report it. We are not experts on the issue, but generally once it's been reported, social services will either decide whether or not to take the case and further investigate. If they do take the case, they will send out someone from child protective services to do an investigation (interviewing people in the household) and from there they will decide the level of danger within the household. It generally ranges from no danger (the youth stays in the home, some services are given, and the case is closed), moderate danger (they will provide family services with possible temporary displacement) and high danger (they will remove the youth from the home and offer certain 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/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering.

While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If he is under 18 and leaves home, his parent/guardian may file him as a runaway and je may be returned home. Also, those he stays 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.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

If you are 16, are you able to leave without parent consent, then try doing the emancipation process?

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out, we hope to help as best we can! In most states if you are under the age of 18, then leaving without parental consent would be considered running away. Running away is not a crime and won’t get you arrested, but how police will manage runaways can vary from state to state. They may or may not try to make you go back home.
When it comes to emancipation, most times the parents have to agree with the decision. I have listed some information below that might be helpful to you about the topic.
We are not legal experts, but we can help you get a general sense of how emancipation works. Our general understanding is some states offer formal emancipation statutes while others do not unfortunately. Laws vary depending on your location, but in many states a minor can petition the court for emancipation to take responsibility for their own care before they turn 18. Generally speaking, courts are wary about granting emancipation. In most cases, you would have to prove in court that you have an income and can care for yourself financially, and that you are able to live separately from your parents. It also helps to be in good standing at school. The court will also factor in the mental and physical welfare of your parents in order to establish your best interest. Usually your legal guardian would have to agree to this in court. Once you are emancipated, you can legally choose where you live, but you might still find that you cannot sign a lease or build credit until you turn 18. The emancipation process can take several months or up to a year, and may cost money in the form of court fees and other expenses. Usually, the best way to learn about emancipation in your state is to contact a lawyer. You may also find information at your county family court. We can look up legal aid resources that may be able to help you with the process. Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have questions, need legal resources, or need to talk. We can explore your situation, go over all your options, and come up with a plan and resources to deal with your situation over the phone or on live chat. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

We hope this helps, if you would like further help please call or chat with us!

Stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi me and my mom have had so many issues she had choked me before, punched me, threatened to kill me, and pulled out my hair now that time is passing it’s hard to live with her if I ran away would I get in trouble?