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

[Guest]

I am 55 I want to run away from home as I am getting harrest and police won't do anything about it

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, at age 55 you can legally leave your home or move if you need. That sounds really frustrating that police are not helping you when you are being harassed.

If you need any shelter resources or help with rent assistance to afford a new place to stay, you might reach out to the United Way information and referral line by dialing 2-1-1.

We truly wish you the best of luck,

NRS

[Guest]

hey i am 17 and i will run away to my boyfriend house who is gotta get trouble me or my boyfriend

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. This is a really great question to ask. If you leave home without the permission of your legal guardian(your parents), they can report you as a runaway. Running away is not illegal and it is not a crime. If you do leave though, your parents can potentially have the police return you home. Your boyfriend could be charged with a misdemeanor called harboring a runaway although it is rare. We are not legal experts here at NRS so we cannot give you absolute answers. Your local police department will better be able to give you information about their runaway and harboring protocols. You can call the non-emergency number to ask questions anonymously.

Do not hesitate to reach out any time by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or chat with us at 1800runaway.org if you would like to talk more about your situation. We are here 24/7 to listen and help.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 16years old I’m not happy at home I feel like my parents hate me they don’t understand I have a bf bc I’m scared to tell them stuff. What happens if they find out I’m not going to school or just staying at my bfs house what happens if they call the police I want to make the right go stay at my bfs house

[ccsmod16]

Hi there,

We're sorry to hear that it hasn't been a good time at home right now. You have a right to your feelings and a right to be heard. We are here to support you in whatever way we can.

You ask what might happen if you stay at your boyfriend's house without permission (and also not go to school). One thing your parents might do is file a runaway report with the police. Running away isn't a crime, but it is a status offense like breaking curfew. If your parents know where you are (your boyfriend's house), they can ask the police to visit and you may be taken back to your parent's house. More seriously, anyone you stay with could be accused of harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor. As for school, if you are absent long enough it is likely the school will contact your parents.

Those are just some ideas as to what might happen, but we never tell anyone what to do. Perhaps there are some other options available to you that you haven't considered yet? We'd like to help you find out what those options might be. The best way for us to do that is if you give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us via our main page: www.1800runaway.org.

We hope to hear from you soon! stay safe!

NRS

[Guest]

I ran away and i dont know what my dad will do if i go back. Life is miserable at my house. He took my phone which I paid for. I have a job and my dad took $1.6k out of my bank account because he said i had to pay for my braces and i didnt tell him that he could. He hates me and I hate him. He never lets me do anything with my friends or anything. I go to school. But every time i go home I just runaway again.

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. We appreciate you being able to reach out and be honest about what is going on. It seems like your dad is being really unfair to you and your situation. We are sorry that is happening and that you don’t deserve it. As far as going home it might be a good idea to find an adult and see if they can offer support to you and your situation. Another thing to keep in mind is maybe just calling NRS and we can conference call with you and your dad. In this call you can express what you would like to see and what you want to do moving forward. It can be a good talk because we will be in the conversation and give you the ability to feel heard and like your dad might hear you out better.

If you feel you need to talk further with us please do not hesitate to call or use our chat option online as we don’t normally respond to second emails. Our call option is 1-800-786-2929 and you can find our chat option online at 1800runaway.org (click on the chat option). We hope you are able to find a quick solution to your predicament , NRS

[Guest]

So I was just fine with this person I was living with when my dad left and all of a sudden my uncle forced me to come live with him. If I run back to where I was what will happen? I can’t stand the people I live with now they expect me to be perfect and I just miss the person I used to live with she was like by bsf.

[ccsmod4]

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

We appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.

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. Like if your uncle is not your legal guardian can you be forced to live with him.

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).

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17
Can my mom call the cops on me after she kicked me out ?

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. We are sorry that you have been kicked out, in most states that would be considered neglect because you are still a minor. One option you could consider is calling the police and making a report. Another option is you could file a neglect report by calling Child Help at: 1800-422-4453.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation if you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Can the cops force me to go back to my parents house if am 16?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. While we’re not legal experts, we do have a great deal of experience working with runaways. It is not illegal to run away. Your parent/guardian could file a runaway report on you but this would NOT mean that you would get arrested or charged with anything. It typically does mean that the police could return you home if they encountered you and that would be that. Police typically do not actively search for a runaway youth. However, they will go where the parent/guardian directs them if they know where you are staying. Additionally, police can sometimes be more lenient about runaway situations the closer you are to 18. You can attempt to calmly and respectfully deny them consent to touch you or take you anywhere, and they may give up on trying to return you home. They also may not, in which case you should comply with what they tell you to do for your safety. This can depend on the state you’re in, the county you’re in, even the officer that happens to be handling the situation that night. At 16, from our experience, the police would most likely force you to return home. If you want to know for sure, you can always reach out to your local police non-emergency number and ask them as they will know exactly what they would do.

If you want to talk more about what is going on and what options you have, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

im 15 almost 16 and i run away again

[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.
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]

Hi I'm 16 and I'm considering leaving home. I just want to take the burden off of my legal guardians. Is it legal for me to leave and will my guardians get in legal trouble

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now.
Running away can be a huge decision that only you can make as you know your situation best. We are not legal experts but we do have some information on the laws and what could happen. Because you are a minor if you were to leave home without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home. If your parents did not file a runaway report they could get in trouble for neglect. If you do decide running away is your best option you can always give us a call and we can help you look for a safe place to go.
We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away from home because my family is weird and creepy.

[ccsmod3]

Hello there,

We're glad you felt comfortable reaching out on our forum. It sounds like you are having problems at home due to your family being weird and creepy and are considering running away. We'd be happy to talk to you further and invite you to talk one-on-one here through our Live Chat. Please click on the following link to get started on a Live Chat: https://na0messaging.icarol.com/Cons...d=254&cc=en-US.

Good luck,

-NRS

[Guest]

Hello I am 16, and want to move out of home because my parents aren't nice. I was slut shamed for a good 8 years of my life.I have been called a horrible and a terrible person by my parents. they have threatened to beat me with the belt as well. they threaten and hit our new dog because she is a puppy.I am trying to move out e=very so. Any advice.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. You shouldn't be called things like that by anyone, let alone your parents! Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

You mentioned something about them threatening to hit you with belts and it raises concern for your well being. 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. You stated some concern as well about treatment of your dog. If this is something that you feel needs to be reported you can go to the ASPCA's site at https://www.aspca.org/take-action/report-animal-cruelty yo do so.

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.

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 13. I was adopted and my parents seem to hate me although I try to love. I really want to run but I will miss my sisters to much and I don't want to cause them pain what do I do?

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

It must really hurt to feel like your parents don't love you! It could be a good idea to work with a local family counselor or have a conversation mediated by a school counselor/social worker, trusted friend, or family member to help clear the air. If you'd like, you can also call us directly and we can conduct a conference call with your parents so you have a safe environment where you can express yourself.

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.

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 16 and I have a job opportunity in another state I am in Texas but I'm mom hasn't agreed if I leave anyway can she legally force me to come back home?

[ccsmod4]

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

We appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.

It also sounds like you have a job opportunity in another state but mom has not given her permission at this time for you to go. You might be considering going with or without it but are not sure if you may be forced to come back home.

While we are not experts on the law, someone under 18 that leaves home, the parent/guardian may file them as a runaway and if picked up 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.


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).

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I believe my mom is emotionally abusive. I live with my mom and my stepdad and I really want to run away to live with my girlfriend. Living in this home makes me really depressed and I'm already on medication. I can't go live with my dad because he's abusive and I already went through a law suit to live with my mom full time. But now things are just terrible and I hate it here. I turn 16 in a few weeks and I don't even have a job yet, but my girlfriend's family is nice and accepting. Can I runaway without having to worry about the police?

[ccsmod3]

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.
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