(Texas) Police entering a home searching for a runaway

[Guest64]

I'm 16 years old and living in Texas with my dad at the moment. I have reason to believe I'm being psychologically abused, but I don't want to start a whole legal process about this. I already know I don't qualify for emancipation, and my mother passed away last year, so I basically have nowhere else to go.

If I run away, and the police "get word" of where I am, can they legally come into a house searching for me? Would a judge ever sign a warrant to search for a runaway inside a house?

Thanks!

[ccsmod0]

RE: (Texas) Police entering a home searching for a runaway

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It seems like you’re in a pretty tough spot, so it was smart of you to reach out for some support. We’re sorry to hear that you’ve been being abused at your home. You definitely do not deserve that kind of treatment. So let’s see if we can help you with your questions.

All this legal stuff can be a little tricky because laws and rules change dependent on each state as well as each county and local government. They can even be dependent on your local police department. We aren’t legal experts here, but we can speak more generally about some things. That being said, in Texas, the age of adulthood is 18. It is not illegal to runaway, but if you run away from your dad before that age, he is able to file a runaway report. That means they will have your name on file and if you interact with the police, they may return you to your dad.

Now, you mentioned that you’ve thought about the legal process surrounding the abuse that’s going on in your house. This can also change the situation. If there is abuse at home, the police may work with social services to determine whether it is safe for you to return home.

We hope this helps. We’d also like to talk through your situation more and help set you up with resources and problem solve. If you’d like, you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We are available 24/7. If calling isn’t your thing, you can chat with us on our website (www.1800runaway.org) from 4:30pm-11:30pm Central Standard Time.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you and good luck,

NRS

[LostCause]

Your practically out of luck

Honestly, I love my mother and need her financially and sentimentally. If she passed away I might as well commit suicide, there is no away I can live with my abusive alchohic father (I would rather him smoke weed, at least then he wouldnt be a jerk when under the influence). I'm 17 and even since I turned 17 I was looking for perfect opportunitys to call the cops on my dad and get rid of him. If I where still 14 or 13, I would call the cops on both of them all together, and when I go to Child Protective Services I'll live in an orphanage or foster family nice and good. But will it be nice and good? Possibly not, but living with my parents either one of them is no picnic either. The owners there may be nice or mean but at least it won't be as scarring since there not relatives and can only do so much to you. I wish I could go back in time and get/got rid off my parents but It's too late, who is going to want to take someone almost an adult under their wing? Nobody. If my mom abandons me, I will be financially screwed and sentimentally alone. My dad sees me laboratory experiment he wants to be perfect, instead of a free-willed person. He's just a blue-collar scumbag, my mom is professional but selfish at times. They both are. All I know without my mom, I'm ready to pull the trigger or something and commit suicide. There is absolutely no way I can have a future without my mother, there's no sugar-coding it. But if your young kid, go ahead and call CPS on them before you get too old.

[ccsmod0]

RE: Your practically out of luck

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out and contributing to the conversation. It sounds like you have a lot of things going on in your life and have experienced so much. It seems like it can be tough when your dad puts so much pressure on you. All of it seems like it could be very overwhelming.

Since you’re not considering making an abuse report, do you have a safe place to go when your dad gets angry? It can be important to have a place to go when things escalate. Also, when you times get overwhelming, a really great resource for you might be the National Suicide Hotline. If you need to, you can reach them at 1-800-273-8255. They can be a really big help.

And of course, you can contact us anytime at 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929). We’d love to talk through some options with you and hook you up with some resources. We’re here 24/7 and anonymous and confidential. You can also chat with us on our website (www.1800runaway.org) from 4:30pm-11:30pm Central Standard Time. Keep your head up. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

-NRS