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

[Guest]

i’m 16 and i’m l am currently living with my mom


I have tried many times too go live with my father but my mom keeps disagreeing. Now that i am 16 i want too leave and live with my dad. i’ve been thinking very hard about this and i do need some advice. i’ve read some of the questions and answers of different teens trying too run away and it’s mostly about leaving both parents. but if i run away too my fathers house can the authorities bring me back too my mom ?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. We’re sorry that your situation at home is making you feel like you have to leave and that you are not able to live with your dad. While we are not legal experts, we do have general information about running away. In this case, it seems like it would be more up to how custody of you has been arranged between your two parents. It might be a good idea to reach out to your dad to figure out exactly how your custody is arranged and what options you may have to change it. If you would like to share a little bit more information with us, we may be able to find other options or solutions for you. If you are interested in doing so, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us on our 24/7 hotline at 1-800-786-2929 or on chat at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

hey im 16 can u run away from home and move state will the cops try to follow me to the other states like my parents are the worst like they dont let me do stuff like i need out there my brother is the only one that get repect around the house like i feel like a unwanted person and that im dispotment to them bc i cant be smart like them like i need help i need to know if i can run and move state and cop will not fine me

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for your message. It sounds like things at home are very challenging right now. It can be really hurtful when your family doesn’t support or respect you in the way that you need. It also sounds like your family is choosing to focus on what they wish you were like instead of appreciating you for who you are. From your message, it’s clear that you are brave, resourceful, and strong. You are not a disappointment.
You write that you feel like an unwanted person and a disappointment. That’s a powerful feeling; it must be overwhelming at times. It could be a possibility that your family doesn’t realize how their actions are affecting you. It could be an option to talk to one of your parents about how you’ve been feeling and figure out ways that you can feel more supported. If that doesn’t sound like an option, it could still be a good idea to confide in someone you trust about how you’ve been feeling, like a teacher, guidance counselor, friend, or any other person you trust. While it may not change the situation, it can be relieving to get some of that hurt off your chest.
You asked if you can run and move to another state without the police pursuing you. We aren’t legal experts here, so we can’t make any guarantees about how your local police would handle your situation. Usually, if a young person runs away from home, their parents can file a runaway report. From there, the police do their best to follow any clues they have about where you might be. If they aren’t able to locate you, they may stop their search. One thing to keep in mind is that if you run into the police or are arrested for something (for example, stealing food), the police may realize that you are a runaway if your parents did file a runaway report. If you do choose to leave, it’s important to think about the following: where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, how you’ll get food, how you’ll make money, etc. Having a plan helps to keep you safe, as many young people find that living on the street with no plan can be scary or unsafe. If you need help thinking of a plan or need help finding resources, please feel free to call us at 1-800-786-2929. We’re happy to help.
Stay strong and stay safe!
--NRS

[Guest]

im a 16 turning 17 in august i ran away and my mom said that i have to come home no matter what if i am safe at someones house can the police take me out of that house

[ccsmod5]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out. We’re sorry to hear that you’re having difficulties with your parents at home. It sounds like you’ve been dealing with a lot. You do not deserve to be neglected or mistreated by your parents.

In regards to your question, we are not legal experts and cannot give legal advice. That being said, if you choose to run away, your parents may file a runaway report. If this occurs the police may attempt to find you, though they often don’t actively pursue minors who are near 18 years old. If the police know where to find you, they may pursue you and attempt to bring you home. If you are staying with someone, that person can be charged with harboring a runaway. If you go to a different state, it may be more difficult for police to pursue you, and they are probably less likely to do so.

Some things you may want to think about if you’re considering leaving the state are finances, transportation, food, and shelter. It’s good to have a general destination in mind, for instance a family or friend you can plan to stay with for a while. It’s also important to consider how you’ll get to where you’re trying to go. If you don’t have access to a car, think about how you might pay for plane or train tickets, and how you’ll get food along the way. Always consider your own safety. If you do choose to run away and ever need advice or references for shelters to stay at, or just want someone to talk to, you can call us anytime at 1-800-786-2929. We’re here 24/7 and are completely confidential.

Thanks again for reaching out!

[Guest]

I want to run away.

Im 16 1/2 (turning 17 July 2nd) and My mom is very abusive to me mentally and emotionally. she always shuts down how i feel and she calls me **********y, fresh, snotty, bratty/a brat, greedy, etc. she makes me feel like ******** in all honesty. she has made me want to kill myself before.. ive had 20 suicide attempts since shes been here and she was one of the reasons why.. (other reasons include abusive ex, grandfather, depression, and just tired of feeling hurt..) and I want to just leave. im 16 and i can leave my house without parental consent. i dont feel safe. i hate living here. id enjoy living at my boyfriends or best friends house. im just so tired of being abused and hurt...

[ccsmod7]

Thank you for reaching out today. You don’t deserve to be treated that way.

You mentioned suicide and we want to let you know that it is very brave of you to reach out to us today and we are very happy you are with us. There is nothing more important than your life and safety. There is a suicide hotline called National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org which you could reach out to or feel that you can reach out to us the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-Runaway www.1800RUNAWAY.org 24/7 every day of the week. There are resources that we can provide for you for seeking counseling etc.

You do need parental consent to leave home till you reach the age of majority in your state generally 18 years old but you can check the age for your state. If you are facing physical abuse you could report that but verbal abuse is harder report although very serious. If you are interested in reporting you might reach out to the experts at Child Help 1-800-422-4453; www.childhelp.org. You can always call us here as well.

Again, we’re really glad that you are reaching out to us. It takes a lot to ask for help. If you would like to talk further about your situation, please do not hesitate to call or chat with us. We’re here to listen, here to help.

[Guest]

I want to runaway and I already have a place to stay. I understand running away is a status offense but how can i leave without having to be forced back home?

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today.

Sounds like you have done some research on runaway laws and know that you can be filed as a runaway for leaving home without permission. You are right, running away is usually considered a status offense or something you cannot do due to your age, rather than being illegal. When you leave home and you are filed as a runaway, it is always a possibility that you could be returned home if found by police. You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave without being forced back home. There are generally 3 ways you can leave home as a minor and not be reported as a runaway: 1) is with your guardian's permission; 2) through child protective services if you are in danger at home; 3) through the court emancipation process depending on your state's laws if you are self-sufficient and able to support yourself as an adult.

We hope this information was helpful. Please call or chat us if you would like to talk through your situation. There might be additional options for you if we knew more about your situation.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

Im almost 16, and i want to kill myself. But that seems a little drastic, so running away seems the better option. I only have about 180 dollars but that wont get me far? How hard is it to start over in a new state? I can get a job and probably pay for a bus or train fare. I need to know how safe homeless shelters are and if jobs require you to have parental consent. Im also curious as to what the police would do if they were to find me? All i want is to start over. Its either that or death

[ccsmod2]

Hi.
Thanks for reaching out to us. We’re sorry you’re going through such a hard time to where it feels like you’re left with those options. You’re doing the right thing by reaching out and exploring what options might be available to you based on your situation.
If you’re thinking of harming yourself, please contact the police or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. You’re not alone and there are people who would love to listen and help you.
While we’re not legal experts, if you’re found by the police, they will likely return you home to your parent(s) or guardian(s). However, if there’s a situation at home that makes living there either abusive or neglectful for you, the police may be able to help make sure you go home to a supportive environment.
Please give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us at 1800runaway.org to talk more about your options. We’re here to help and here to listen. While things seem bleak right now, we can promise you there are more options available to you.
We look forward to hearing from you and we wish you the best.
-NRS

[Guest]

I took money from my parents and they found out. After that they keep thinking that I used that money on drugs after I explained I spent it on food. My mom told me I had two to either go live with a friend and then she files a police report that i stole from her and the police pick me up at school or that the next day she will take me to mexico. But now she is saying that she never said that. They are going to file a police report saying I am a runaway. I have no idea what can happen if they do that someone please help. what will happen if they do? What am I getting myself into? I live in the state of california if that helps

[ccsmod9]

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. If you are close to being 18 (6 months away from being 1 the police might not file a report for you. In the case of being forced back to Mexico it might be a good idea to consult with a lawyer.
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]

i don’t feel happy at home anymore. i feel depressed and i don’t feel like my health is being taken seriously. (a long story) i’m 16 if i leave home will i be asked to come back?

[ccsmod2]

hank you so much for reaching out, running away is a big decision, so it’s great that you’re seeking out some help with this decision. I’m sorry to hear that you feel like your health is not being taken seriously, this isn’t something that you should ever have to feel like.
We are not legal experts and the age of minority does vary depending on the state, but in general your parents could file a runaway report. This would basically mean that if the police found you, you would have to go back home, but the police do not actively look for runaways.
If you’d like to talk more about your situation, you can always give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us online. We’re open 24/7 and always here to help.

[Guest]

Hey
I'm 16 and want to run away because my dad thinks I'm a troubled kid but I'm not. He just doesn't understand me. Everytime he tells me that he wants to talk about what's wrong I talk to him but he disregards what I say and continues to treat me like crap both verbally and physically. He doesn't understand that every time he treats me the way he does it slowly breaks down my sanity and confidence. The reason I want to run away is he is trying to send me to to boot camp and I know i won't be able to stand it and I might become suicidal because I'm already on the verge of becoming clinically depressed. It would be great if you guy's could help me.

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hey
I'm 16 and want to run away


Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.
It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things in your life right now.
The stress from the situation is getting harder and harder to handle.
We are sorry you are going through a tough emotional time.
You do not deserve to be abused by your father. It is not your fault that this is happening.
Sometimes when communication is hard to come by counseling is looked at as an option to help find ways to resolve the problems at hand. This could serve as an option to boot camp.

NRS is here to listen and here to help.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, 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 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

Hey! I’m currently 12 years of age. My friend and I are planning to “runaway” when I’m 16 and she’s 17. Before you say “our opinions could change” you should know we are very serious. Our home lives are fine, pretty normal actually. But we have decided to put a bit a spice in our lives, we’re both pretty successful in our lives right now, we both have been born into money so we feel at the age 16 &17 we will have the finances to successfully “runaway” we also plan to drive to our picked location when we leave our current state. But I’m somewhat concerned if we get caught or our parents say they want us back, would police come and find us then take us back? Or what if I communicated with my parent and said my friend and I were successfully living now? And they say it’s fine and I can stay where I am. Also once we runaway I’m planning to get back into a Highschool so I can finish my studies. Would my friend and I be stupid if we did this? Also would I be able to go into high school with out a Guardian? I feel as a 12 year old I’m mature. I already am very independent and feel the need to fully leave the nest. Please reply with your thoughts.

[ccsmod5]

Hi, thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’re thinking about a lot of the possible consequences of running away, which is good to hear. Because your parents are your legal guardians until you’re 18, if you leave they could decide to go to the police and file a runaway report. Then if you were caught or found, you would be taken back home. Running away is a status offense, which means that you won’t get arrested or have a criminal record but it is still illegal because you’re a minor.
If your parents are okay with both of you living on your own and don’t contact the police, then you would be allowed to do so. However, living alone at that age could be unsafe, and you would have to think carefully about where you live and how you pay for things and get to school. If you do end up doing this, we encourage you to contact us first to make sure you have a safe plan. You can call us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY, chat online at www.1800runaway.org, or email us at [email protected].
You also asked about high school. It’s great that you plan to stay in high school, but if you’re in a public high school you might need to establish your residency in that city with a guardian. We suggest contacting the school district for their specific policies. If it’s a private school, you will have to think about paying for school.
Finally, are there other activities you and your friend could do to look for the adventure you’re seeking? These could include clubs or activities, travel, making new friends, and more. Best of luck with everything,

NRS

[Guest]

I’ve been on the run since I was 16 & my mother filed a police report for it. I’m 17 now though & will be 18 in a few months. If stay gone until I’m 18 will it be on my record or will I be charged with anything?

[ccsmod4]

Reply:

Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

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 and can only say in general that in most states once a minor that has run away from home becomes 18 they are no longer considered a runaway. Running away is not illegal but known as a status offense and does not stay on the permanent record of a juvenile. For more specific information about the runaway laws in your state contact the non-emergency number of the police.
They should be able to provide more information prudent to your situation.

We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.

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

Take care,
NRS
We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

What if you runaway and your parents contact the school? What if they do everything in their power to get me back?

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today.

We are not legal experts, but we can answer your questions generally. If you leave without permission, your parents can let police know that you are a runaway and give them locations of where you might be including your school. If your parents really advocate for themselves to police, police could have more of a response. However, there are not additional steps they can take to report you as a runaway.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat us if you would like to talk through your situation. We are always here for you: 1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

I'm 16, turning 17 in November. I can't wait till 18 because I'm tired of my mental health deteriorating while I live in my strict Muslim home. A family that is broken and will never be put together. I decided to move out tonight and I'm just looking to see what to do so I don't end up falling apart completely. I don't want to act too quickly or harshly because I want this to be a good decision that will benefit me in the long run.

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out to us. It can be tough to ask for help, and we’re very glad you did.
It sounds like you’re going through some really tough stuff at home. The first thing we want to do is make sure you’re safe, especially if you’re already in the process of moving out. We are a 24/7 support hotline, and you can call or chat us any time to talk through options and answer any questions you may have.
Caring for your own mental health is super important. If you ever want to talk to a professional about the issues you’re facing, you can call 1-800-950-NAMI, or text NAMI to 741741. This hotline is designed for individuals struggling with mental health issues, and can be a great resource if you need to talk through things you’re dealing with.
Thank you again for reaching out. Please don’t hesitate to call or chat with us any time to discuss the decisions and talk through options to keep you safe.