Hi there,
We’re sorry you and your boyfriend are having a difficult time with your parents right now. Your boyfriend certainly does not deserve to be intimidated by his dad like that. You ask a couple good questions. We aren’t legal experts, but we can try and answer as best as we can.
If you were to leave home without permission before 18 you would be considered runaways. Your parents could file a report with the police and you could be detained by police until you were released to your parents. Additionally, anyone you stay with could be accused of harboring a runaway, which is a crime. By the way, running away is not a crime, but it is a status offense.
You also ask what might happen if you didn’t get caught and then came to your parents when you are both 18. First, it is very unlikely that you would not “get caught” as your parents would most likely file a runaway report and you would be found by police. But, if you did manage to leave for the next few years and then came to your parents there would be no legal consequences but there most likely would be personal and family consequences for running away so young. You may want to think about what running away could mean for your futures: how running away would affect your life goals, your schooling, how you would have your needs provided for, and so on. Beyond the legal issues a lot of consequences. You’re smart to be reaching out to others to get advice, though.
We hope this information helps. If you’d like to talk more about the situation we are always here to talk. Perhaps there are other options for you both besides running away. Or, if you do decide to run we can possibly find a safe place for you to stay at temporarily. Give us a call any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We’re confidential and anonymous and hope to hear from you. Good luck!
We’re sorry you and your boyfriend are having a difficult time with your parents right now. Your boyfriend certainly does not deserve to be intimidated by his dad like that. You ask a couple good questions. We aren’t legal experts, but we can try and answer as best as we can.
If you were to leave home without permission before 18 you would be considered runaways. Your parents could file a report with the police and you could be detained by police until you were released to your parents. Additionally, anyone you stay with could be accused of harboring a runaway, which is a crime. By the way, running away is not a crime, but it is a status offense.
You also ask what might happen if you didn’t get caught and then came to your parents when you are both 18. First, it is very unlikely that you would not “get caught” as your parents would most likely file a runaway report and you would be found by police. But, if you did manage to leave for the next few years and then came to your parents there would be no legal consequences but there most likely would be personal and family consequences for running away so young. You may want to think about what running away could mean for your futures: how running away would affect your life goals, your schooling, how you would have your needs provided for, and so on. Beyond the legal issues a lot of consequences. You’re smart to be reaching out to others to get advice, though.
We hope this information helps. If you’d like to talk more about the situation we are always here to talk. Perhaps there are other options for you both besides running away. Or, if you do decide to run we can possibly find a safe place for you to stay at temporarily. Give us a call any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We’re confidential and anonymous and hope to hear from you. Good luck!
Comment