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

[Guest]

Hi I turning 15 and I want to run away I live in Indiana.I have a stable home to go to with family and my parents would never find me .Parents are horrible people.I want to run and change my name the things would work out but sacred that the police would be brought in and take me back which my life would end.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It sounds like living with your parents is very difficult. 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 to your parents.

It’s great to hear that you have a stable home in mind. If you go to stay there without prior permission from your parents, the adult in the home could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor. Penalties for harboring a runaway vary from state to state, police officer to officer, and how your parents view the situation.

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.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hey, i'm currently 17 and going be 18 in sep. I want to move out sine i believe im better off alone and i cant forgive my parents for ruining my ex life. We talked and she actually support my dreams and ********. She cared about me, i havent felt a real smile from human affection in a while. My parents called and ruin it, i told i was better off alone since ive been neglected. I never grew close with them. i ssuffer from ptsd and explosive disorder. im not trying run away but im not sure where ill run to.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension and where your independence and romantic relationships are not respected. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

You mentioned that you struggle with PTSD and IED; it can be really hard to live with mental health issues and we want you to know that you aren’t alone in addressing them. If you’d like some additional support, an organization that may be helpful is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). You can contact them by calling 1-800-950-NAMI or you can text them by sending NAMI to 741741. Another agency that could be of great help is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); they can help you locate low or no cost mental health care providers in your area. Their number is 1-877-726-4727 or you can go to their site at samhsa.gov.

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.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12 and I want to live with my friend. I still live near the same school and her parents agreed. Is it legal to stay with them? Will they be charged anything? What happens if my mother calls the police? My parents aren't in a custody battle and technically I live with my Grandparents. My Grandparents harass me and threaten me. What am I allowed to do that is legal?

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your parents/grandparents (whoever is your legal guardian) 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 to your parents/grandparents. If you go to stay at your friend's house without prior permission, whoever is the adult in that household could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor. Penalties for harboring a runaway vary from state to state, police officer to officer, and how your parents/grandparents view the situation.

You mentioned some things about harassment and threats that raise concern for your safety and well-being. Absolutely no one deserves to be abused. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. 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. It may also be a good idea to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

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.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 15 gonna be 16 in 2 months , me and my mom fight too much and it’s too toxic I’m unhappy where I’m living and I messed up in school so I just wanna give up at this point , I wanna leave home and runaway with my boyfriend , he’ll be 18 in 3 months I plan to stay with him in another city but I’m scared because my mom knows that I want to run away and will do anything to find me if I were to leave she also knows where all my friends live and boyfriend , my plan is to leave and go ghost with my boyfriend and if she files a runaway I know there will be problems, I don’t want my boyfriend to get in this mess cuz my mom is crazy and will beat him up I can’t be found until I’m 18 but that’s too long but if he were to lie and say he hadn’t heard from me and didnt know I left would he get in trouble if he’s questioned by the police?

[ccsmod11]

Hi, and 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 sounds like there is a lot going on right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options.

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'd like to talk in more detail about your situation please do not hesitate to reach out by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chatting with us via www.1800RUNAWAY.org as we can best help by phone or chat (NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance).

Best, NRS

[Guest]

Is it legal for a foster kid to run away in the state of florida if she is 16 soon to be 17?

[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 even if you are in foster care. 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]

Can you tell the cops when and if they find you when you runaway that your one parents treats you like crap and constantly thinks ur doing wrong and just wants to have power and control over you

[Guest]

My parents are abusive and my grandma will let me live with her. I'm only 16 is there anyway I can get get out b4 17. I live in Michigan

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for writing in to the National Runaway Safeline Forum Board. Sounds like a tough situation, so it makes sense you are considering your options and reaching out to us is a great first step to educating yourself on the process. In Michigan, you are considered a minor until you turn 18. If you left home and went to stay with your Grandmother, and your parents filed a Runaway Report, your Grandmother could potentially be charged with harboring a runaway. If your parents agree to you going and living with your Grandma, you could consider what’s called an alternative living arrangement. You may want to consult with a legal resource about this option.
Feel free to call us 24/7 at 1800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) and we can provide additional resources for you. Take care.

[Guest]

My grandson left his moms house at age 16 and moved in with me his grandmother can I get in trouble even though I said his mom can come get him anytime but he wont go with her even if she tried to get him to and can the police make him go back home thank you

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today.

Sounds like your grandson is living with you and you are wondering if you could possibly get into legal trouble. Here at NRS, we are not legal experts but we can speak generally about runaway laws.

It is hard to say how police would respond to your situation and if you could be at risk of getting into legal trouble. There is a misdemeanor charge called "harboring a runaway" that the legal adult who knowingly shelters a runaway could be at risk for. However, your grandson would have to be listed as a runaway with local police, and you would have to be sheltering him from his guardian. From what your post says, it seems like you have had contact with his mom and have let her know that she can get him anytime; which would generally taking harboring charges off the table. It is possible that if he refuses to go with mom, she could file him as a runaway with local police and police could make him go back home, yes. Depending on your local police, they could respond a variety of ways to your situation. If you feel comfortable doing so, you might reach out to your local police's non-emergency number to ask hypothetical questions about your situation and how they would respond.

We hope this information is helpful, please call or chat us if you would like to have a conversation about your situation: 1-80-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

Im 15 turning 16 next month i just got hit today from my dad with a belt that left me a lot of bruises over my body which are now sore im not happy anymore staying here i want to leave and run away and live with my boyfriends family but im scared of it being illegal i want to tell my councilor or teacher about this but im scared my parents can get into legal trouble is it okay for your parents to hit you for any reason to the point where they leave bruises?

[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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you 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. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.
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]

I am 17 with 2 months until 18 living in the state of CO, if I were to runaway what legal action would likely happen considering my age and state?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I am 17 with 2 months

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


It sounds like you are thinking about running away but have some concerns have some concerns over what might happen if you are picked up by the police.

While we are not experts on the law, someone under 18 that leaves home, the parent/guardian may file them as a runaway and they may be returned home. Also, those that a reported runaway stays with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. Anyone found to be assisting or aiding someone to run away may also find themselves at risk legally. For more specifics on the law, you might consider contacting the local non-emergency number for the police. You might also look for a legal aid center in the area. They may be able to answer any legal questions on the subject.


If you have any more questions pertaining to your situation,we can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. You are welcome to contact NRS to talk more in detail.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
Please call or chat soon.

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


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]

im 15 and i dont want to stay at home cause of fights and drama can i leave and then call the cops and report them as abusive or can i just leave with no trace left behind and can a cop make you come home if you rum away and dont commit a crime

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’ve been going through such a tough time. That sounds so stressful to have those fights and drama at home. We are here to support you and help you in any way we can.

We want you to know that no one deserves to be abused, and you should not have to go through that. If there is abuse going on at home, you could call Child Help at 1-800-422-4453 or you could call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us online. Or if you ever feel that you are in danger, you could call 911 for immediate help.

We’re not legal experts here at NRS. Generally it’s not illegal to leave home, but your parents could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home. The people you’re staying with could potentially get in trouble for having you stay there. You could consider calling your local nonemergency police department to ask about their policies. We also have legal aid resources here if you have specific questions about the laws in your state.

It sounds like all of your struggles are making you consider leaving home. If you do decide to leave home, you could consider thinking about ways to make sure you stay safe. You could explore ways you would pay for food, shelter, clothing and other necessary things. You could think about how long you would stay away, where you would stay, and what things would be like when you return. You could consider what you would do if you felt that you were in danger or had an emergency.

If you haven’t already, you could consider reaching out to a trusted adult, relative, worker/teacher/counselor at your school for help and support. You could also consider talking to your parents about how you’ve been feeling or having another trusted adult help you talk with them. Just so you’re aware, we have a conference calling service here where we could help mediate a conversation between you and your parents.

There are also many resources that could help you with anything else you may need. If you want to talk more about what’s been going on, or if you would like more information about resources, you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us online.

Again, thank you for contacting us. It sounds like you’ve been going through a really hard time, but you’ve shown a lot of strength by working through these challenges and reaching out for help. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to call us or chat with us online. We’re always here to listen and here to help.

[Guest]

Hi I'm 15 almost 16 ill be turning 16 in a week. I want to run away from this hell whole I live in. My grandparents are mean to me they never let me hangout with friends they don't want me to have a phone and I got cought with a phone and now my grandparents are being very mean verbally they are saying mean stuff to me. I want to go live with either a friend or my biological mom but I don't know how to go about it. I need help

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension - it sounds really hard to not be able to see your friends or have a phone. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. 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.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 16 and want to run away from home as me and my mom do not get along and I am being abused can my friends mom become my gaurdian or adopt me if I want them to and will the police force me to go back home if I don’t want to at all

[ccsmod7]

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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed by your mom. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you 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. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If you leave home without permission, your mom may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once you are filed as a runaway can vary a lot from state to state and even city to city so we cannot predict exactly what would happen in your case. Generally speaking, if you encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, you will likely be returned home. However, in that case there may be services (family counseling, etc.) available to you as a youth in crisis/runaway but again, police procedures related to offering those services can be different based on your location or the details of your situation. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows you to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. One way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have questions, need 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. 1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org

We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

-NRS

[Guest]

hi im considering running away from my home im trapped here and my parents never let me leave i feel suffocated and cant take it anymore but if i do run away how long can i go without police finding me? if i still attend school will they try at take me home after school??

[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. If you manage to run away and still go to school it is more likely than not that you will be found much quicker. 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