Im 16 and hate living at home if i run away can the police force me to go back?

[ccsmod16]

Re: I Want To Run Away

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us. We're sorry to hear of the neglect you are experiencing at home. It sounds like your living situation is very difficult and you lack sufficient attention to your medical health. You deserve better.

It very upsetting that your mother does not feed you. As your legal guardian she is required to take care of your well-being, including feeding you and taking care of your health. If you would like to file a report with Child Protective Services you can give us a call and we can help you through that process. The laws on running away vary from state to state and we are not legal experts here. The police generally do take the runaway back home even if the youth states they do not want to return. In most states it is not a crime to runaway but is considered a status offence. (Like a parking ticket or something similar.) This can change if the youth is on parole or has some other pre-existing situation.

We would like to assist you with more information to help you figure out your options. If you would like to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786.2929) or use are chat line we can try to get the information you need. We are here to help.

Best,
NRS

[Unregistered]

I don't want to live with ny parents

I'm 16 and just don't like living here Its so crazy I have 4 brothers and a sister who are always fighting and screaming and crying and I also have a step mom who is a brat always thinking she is in charge. And my dad is okay he loves me and takes care of me but I sent fair to me. Would it be illegal to live with my aunt, or would we have to do something to live with my aunt, I haven't told my dad afraid of getting in trouble please help

[ccsmod10]

Re: I don't want to live with ny parents

Hello There!
Thanks for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It is a great first step to finding the information and help that you may need. It sounds like you are having a difficult time being at home. It seems like it is a bit chaotic and you are unhappy here. It is great that you have the support of your aunt. Typically you would need permission to leave home and live with someone else. It could be a possibility for your aunt to discuss with you and your father about this arrangement. We are not legal experts here but generally speaking it is not illegal to runaway or leave home without permission, but it would mean that your parents could file a runaway report. The police would then be required to return you home.
We hope this information was helpful.
Stay Strong,
NRS

[unregistered]

im almost 17 and im gonna run away.

Tonight my dad came in and strangled me, he continued to yell at me and i said he was hurting me and he pushed even harder and said that he didnt care. He said its my choice if i want to leave and live under a stop sign.
My grandmother chases me around the house swearing at me every day and for the past 2 days she has come at me with a butter knife swearing and screaming while im crying and locked in my room. I tossed my nintendo ds on the floor because she wanted it. I havent been allowed to be social or even step foot out my door for about 7 months now. Im legitimately done, i was almost killed tonight. Advice?

[ccsmod0]

Re: Im 16 and hate living at home if i run away can the police force me to go back?

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us. We're so sorry to hear that you are being treated this way at home - you don't deserve this and we're here to support you the best we can.

It sounds like home isn't a safe environment. Have you considered filing a report with Child Protective Services? If you let them know about what's going on, they'll evaluate your situation and decide what the best steps would be to handle it. We understand that this can be a difficult decision to make, so we're always here if you want to discuss your situation further. If you want, we can help you file a report if you call in; we'll support you and advocate for you.

Is there anyone else you could stay with (such as a friend or extended family member), even if it's temporary while you figure things out? If you're interested in staying at a youth shelter, we can give you referrals and reach out to them for you if you'd like. Our goal is to make sure you're safe, and to help you come up with options and a plan.

School counselors can also be a helpful resource, if you're comfortable talking to them. However, keep in mind that they are mandated reporters, which means that they are legally obligated to report any kind of abuse that their students are experiencing at home.

You must be going through a lot and we're here to listen. Even if you just need someone to talk to, you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY at any hour of the day, and we also have a live chat service from 4:30pm-11:30pm CST. If your safety is in danger, please call 911. We wish you the very best; take care.

[Unregistered]

I found a runaway

I met a girl the other day who is 16 years old and a runaway from her foster mom in virginia. Shes staying with some of my friends and her mom is worried about her. I dont want my friends in trouble but this girl needs to go home before the law shows up and arrests my friends for hiding her. What can i legally do to get her back were shes supposed to be?

[ccsmod9]

RE: I found a runaway

Hello,
Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

It sounds like a pretty difficult situation you’re dealing with at home. You’re right, your friends could be in some trouble if the police showed up looking for the runaway youth. This is not always the case, but it is a possibility.

Do you know what the youth’s situation was like back home? It’s hard to say what should be done in this case because sometimes runaway youth are fleeing a home situation that involved abuse of some kind. If you called the police, they would return her home and perhaps straight back to the situation she wanted to get away from. However, not reporting a runaway to the police could result in problems for your friend’s parents. The choice is yours, but we just want you to understand both sides of the issue.

If you wanted to give the youth our phone number, 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929), we could try to come up with a plan that works for her. We really want to make sure she’s safe, first and foremost. You could also call on her behalf, but it might be easier to talk to her directly.

Best of luck,

NRS

[Unregistered]

Re: Im 16 and hate living at home if i run away can the police force me to go back?

Im 16 and Ive run away before and the cops told me I had to go back. I told them how I got beat and abused and they though I was exaggerating. I live with my step mom and biological dad but I want to live with my biological mo. What do i do

[ccsmod0]

Re: Im 16 and hate living at home if i run away can the police force me to go back?

Thank you for using our bulletin service.
First off we want to say that abuse whether its physical, emotional or verbal, it is never okay and you do have the right to report it and do not deserve it. You might want to think about making a report with Child Protective Services. Child Help USA is an information and referral line that can connect you with your local CPS abuse hotline. That number is 1-800-422-4453. If you ever felt like making a report or needed help, we are here to assist with that. We are sorry to hear that the police did not believe you when you told them that are being abused. We want you to know that we believe you. We understand that making an abuse report can be intimidating so if you like we can call together to provide support.
It sounds like you are questioning what you can do to go and live with your mom. Custody is a tricky matter and we want to let you know that we are not legal experts here, which means that we are only able to speak in general terms about your situation. An option you may want to consider is reaching out to a legal aid and asking some questions regarding what it would take in order for your father to regain custody of you. If you are able to give us a call, we would be more than willing to provide you with a resource where you will be able to do so.
We hope that you consider giving us a call.
1-800-RUNAWAY

[Jerry Seinfeld]

Horrible Living Situation

Hi I'm 16, and I'm living in horrible in horrible living situation. My house has bunch of fruitfly's and bugs. The good I eat makes me sick, and its affecting my health and education. I can't even go to school or outside with bugs surrounding me. My parent doesn't do anything in the house, or knows how to keep it clean. I feel like ******** all the time. I was gonna contact the child services thing, but I'm curious to what's going to happen to me? I have other family members but I don't like them. Will I stay in a orphanage or something? Just curious.

[ccsmod0]

Re: Im 16 and hate living at home if i run away can the police force me to go back?

Hello there,
Thank you for using our bulletin service.
We are sorry to hear that conditions at home are so horrible for you. It is understandable as to why you would want to get Child Protective Services involved. Being able to eat a meal that doesn’t make you sick is important as well as not having bugs always surrounding you.
It sounds like you are questioning what would happen if you got CPS involved. We are not affiliated with CPS and can only speak generally about how their process goes. Generally speaking if someone were to make a report with CPS they would send out an agent to come and investigate the situation. The agent would assess the living situation to see if it is a stable and healthy place for the youth to stay. If they found that the home is not a suitable place for the youth they would find a place for them to go. They would first start with family then if there is no one in the family willing to take the youth then they would open the search to family friends and if they cannot find someone within there then the final step would be to place the youth in foster care or a group home.
You mentioned that you do have family but you do not like them, this may not be enough for CPS to decide that you should not go there. Sometimes depending on age the youth can have a say in where they would like to go but then again that is dependent on the agent that you have.
If you have any more questions about how you can make a report or how the process is carried out you can check out https://www.childhelp.org/
We hope that we were able to answer some of your questions. If not you can give us a call 1-800-RUNAWAY
Best
NRS

[Unregistered]

16 & Unappreciated

I'm 16 & I have a 5 month old daughter , my mom is bipolar (diagnosed) with it & depression and anxiety ... She Takes her anger out on me when I was 8 months pregnant she shot a 30" bubble tv at me I turned so it hit me in my back , my sister tried stabbing me with a fork when I was 9 months pregnant , my dad told me he was gonna get me jumped since I told the police he sales drugs after he punched me in the face. My mom & brother calls me fat says I'm a whore since I got pregnant at 15 , now my mom sales marijuana and is a bootlegger (sales liquor on the low) I don't want my daughter in that environment . I cook, clean , Wash HER Clothes & she still complains , when she has company she kicks me out my bed and say sleep on the floor in the living room , she doesn't talk to me unless she's yelling at me , when shows mad at other people she'll take it out on me. I want a job so I can tend for my baby but she won't sign my job permit paper and because of her I have depression and anxiety and sometimes I think about killing my self but because of my daughter I haven't , I'm tired if being used , im tired of whoopings with extension cords .. Okay I was fine when I didn't have a baby Now I do , im not gonna let her hit me in front of my daughter ... I live in Rochester NY if I leave am I a run away or a emincapted Minor ? If I move in with my sister would she get in trouble ? Could I get in trouble ?

[ccsmod10]

Re: 16 & Unappreciated

Hello There!
Thanks for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It is a great first step to finding the information and the support that you may need. It sounds like you have gone through so much being at home. No one deserves to be treated as such. Home is meant to be a place of comfort, safety, and support. You and your child deserve to be treated better. Have you thought about reporting what you ae going through to child protective services? You are not alone in this. We are here to support you in the best way possible. If you call us at 1800-RUNAWAY we could talk more about this option and also make this report with you. Since this is a big decision to think about, if and when you are ready to make a report on your own, you can always call Child Help USA at 1800-422-4453. You mentioned notifying the authorities before. Please do not hesitate to do whatever you feel is necessary if the safety of you and your child is threatened. This could mean notifying the police or reaching out to other trusted family members, adults, and friends for support.

You mentioned the thought of ending your life. You are an amazingly courageous for thinking about what this means for your daughter. You and your wellbeing is just as important. If you ever have these thoughts or feelings again and would like someone to confide in, we are here 24/7 and the National Suicide Hotline at 1800-273-TALK could be great options to turn to.

You also mentioned considering the option of leaving home may be best for you. We are not legal experts here, but typically being under the age of what your state considers to an adult (usually 18 ), you would need permission from your parents to leave. It is not illegal to runaway or leave home without permission, but it would mean that your parents could file a runaway report. The police would then be required to return you home. There is such a thing called harboring a runaway. However, the severity of this charge or its outcomes can vary greatly depending on the state or district. You can find a more specific answer to this by calling out to your local police district’s non-emergency number. You wouldn’t have to give any identifying information. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, if you initiate a call with NRS at 1800-RUNAWAY we could place this call on your behalf.
If there is anything that we could do to better support you. Remember we are 24/7 and we are here to listen and help add best as possible.
Stay Strong. Stay Safe
NRS

[Unregistered]

If I was to run away from home at the age of 15, the police legally have to bring me home because I'm not 16, right? I'm not going to, I'm just curious.

[ccsmod6]

Re:

Hi there,

Thanks for using our online forum. It seems you were wondering what age you could leave home without police trying to take you back. We are not sure of the laws in your state, but most states set 18 as the age of majority, meaning a teen will not be expected to be returned home. Some states set a high age of majority. If you'd like to learn more or talk at all, please reach out by phone or chat. We are here for you.

Best,

NRS