17 year old runaway law in Colorado

[Unregistered]

hi. im 17 years old in Colorado. Me and my mom do not get along at all. She is emotionally and verbally abusive. Recently, i was in a behavioral clinic for severe depression and anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Most of this is because of her. Since ive been back home, she thinks im lying about my depression and im trying to play a game and get peoples attention. shes blocked me off from everything and everyone. it has made me even more depressed. everyday she tells me that if i dont like the rules in her house, that i should just get out of the house. every time i say ok i will, she says no. She would rather put me in foster care. I cant do this emotionally anymore. I just want to leave. She says she will call the cops if i leave. I was wondering what the runaway laws were in colorado. if i do leave and the cops come after me, cant i just say that she told me to leave and that i feel unsafe? i need help. Anything.

[ccsmod11]

re: 17 year old runaway law in Colorado

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. It must be difficult not to feel supported by your mom during this challenging time. It sounds like you are unable to reach out to others for support. We’re here to listen.

You're asking a good question. We aren't legal experts, but we are able to speak generally as to what might happen if you decide leave without your mom's permission. If you do decide to leave, your mom has the right to file a runaway report with the police. Unfortunately, even if you tell the police that your mom told you to leave, the police could return you to your mom if she filed a runaway report. The reason for this is because your mom is legally responsible for you until you turn 18. If you told the police that you feel unsafe, they would most likely contact Child Protective Services, and still return you home. Then CPS would investigate to see if you are safe there.

You stated that you feel like you are being verbally and physically abused. If that is the case, it may be helpful to reach out to Childhelp a national child abuse hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) to gain a better idea of what the process of leaving home may look like in your area.

Another option to consider is a conference call. This is service that we provide if you feel you need a third party on the line while having a conversation with your mom. Communicating how you feel to your family is not always easy and we would be happy to provide support.

For additional support or resources please feel free to give us a call at 1800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We're anonymous, confidential and available 24/7. You can also chat with us through our website (www.1800runaway.org) from 4.30pm-11.30pm Central Time. We're here to help, talk through other options, listen to what going's on and just be a general support to you.

Best of luck,

NRS

[Unregistered]

colorado runaway laws?

hello I am 18 years of age, recently my mother and I are not getting along she forbid me to see my current boyfriend who is 23. I was wondering what would happen if she were to call the cops on me as report me as a runaway? I am aware that 18 is legal adult age but does anyone know what actually happens when a parent tries to call the cops and report a runaway if they're already 18. Thank you

[ccsmod0]

re: colorado runaway laws?

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out tonight. It’s great that you’re wanting to make sure of your rights and put together a plan before you make a decision on what to do. So let’s see how we can help you out.

You’re right that once you turn 18, you are a legal adult. That means you gain legal responsibility for yourself and that you get to do what you want with your money and you get to decide where you want to live. If your mom calls the police, the police might make a missing persons report but they would not make you go back home. Usually what you would have to do with a missing person’s report is just call the police station and tell them that you are not actually missing. Your mom doesn’t have any legal rights to make you come back home.

Now, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any consequences for leaving. If and when you return back home, how do you think your mom is going to respond? Thinking through that question can be a good next step for you. It’s great that you’re working through what happens next.

Please reach out to us if you have any other questions through our hotline or through our website (www.1800runaway.org). You can call us 24 hours a day at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We are confidential and anonymous. If you aren’t able to call, you can chat with us from 4.30pm-11.30pm central time.

We look forward to your call or chat.

Best of luck to you,

NRS

[Unregistered]

complicated runaway situation for 17yr old

Hi, I'm posting for a friend that I'm concerned about. He wants to runaway from home and has almost all his stuff at an adult friend's house. He is facing depression on suicidal thoughts, but they haven't really been a dressed by his parents who either write it off or victimize themselves every time he tells them.

The complicatons are that me and him don't always do the best activities on our free time, and Im concerned that if he runs away they will ignore his reasons and say it's because his parents wouldn't let him do what he wants. I honestly thought of doing what he's about to last year, but decided against it because I could wait, But he is unwavering in his attempt to leave. If he does though all of the not so great things we do are gonna bite us, and everyone we do them with, in the ass. I fear the result will be that he ends up back home and isn't allowed to see any of us anymore.

I offered to go clean with him if he could just stick it out at his house until he's 18, but he still wants to leave, I want to support him but I don't know what I should do to help him, if I should support his leaving or try and get him to stay. I don't want him to end up on the streets but I really don't want him to kill himself. How can I help him?

[ccsmod0]

re: complicated runaway situation for 17yr old

Thanks for reaching out to us. Your friend is facing serious struggles emotionally and having difficulties at home. It sounds like you are worried about your friend’s safety and are conflicted about what to do to help him. He is lucky to have a friend like you who is so concerned for him and willing to find options to help him.

Our first concern is to keep your friend safe. If he has recent or current thoughts of suicide, you should call 911 or the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. There are mental health resources we could provide in your area as well.

Regarding running away, your friend is considered a minor in many states. If he runs away before 18, his parents can file a runaway report with the police. This would mean that if the police found him, they would be required to return him back home to his parents. Any person the youth stays with could also be charged with harboring a runaway. We are not legal experts though, so you may want to contact your local police for further information. If your friend does run away, there are shelters and Safe Place sites we could provide that would keep him off the streets and ensure he has a safe place to stay.

Another option is to have your friend call us, and we can facilitate a conference call with him and his parents. We would mediate the call, and it would allow him to clearly express his concerns and feelings to his parents in a safe space. Also there are some questions you may want to have him consider: Where would he go? How long would he be able to stay at this place? How would he support himself financially? Would he still attend school? How could he be contacted? What would happen if someone dangerous approached him on the streets? What are other options does he have other than leaving?

Again, we’re really glad that you reached out to us. It takes a lot to ask for help and you are trying to figure out your options which is really good to see. If you would like to talk further about your situation, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us www.1800 runaway.org. We can also provide those mental health and shelter resources as well. We’re here to listen, here to help.

[Monica]

17 about to be 18 in a month

My mom wants to call the cops on me and repot me as a run away but paid for me to come on the bus to utah ... can the police make me go back???

[ace]

17 about to be 18 in a month

I'm from Colorado and my mom and sister paid for me to go live with my fiance. . And now she is threatening to call the cops and report me as a Runaway can I get in trouble for that

[Unregistered]

Ace

I'm from Colorado and my mom and sister paid for me to go live with my fiance. . And now she is threatening to call the cops and report me as a Runaway can I get in trouble for that

By the way my fiance and me are in Utah

[ccsmod0]

Re: 17 year old runaway law in Colorado

Thank you for using our bulletin service.
It sounds like you’re in an uncertain situation with your mother letting you go to live with your fiancé but is now threatening to call the police on you.
Unfortunately we aren't legal experts here, but we are able to speak generally as to what might happen if a youth leaves home without a parents consent. For anyone under the age of 18 the parents have the right to make a runaway report. Since it’s only considered a status offense and not a crime to run away, the only thing that would happen is that the police will pick up the youth and bring them back home. This is of course if they had any interaction with the police directly. If the youth is found to be living with anyone else the person that they are staying with could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor offense. You can find out more about how runaway’s reports are carried out by contacting your local police department
Would you happen to have any proof that your mother sent you to live there? Like a receipt or a text that your mother might have sent you indicating that she knew where you were and that you are safe?

If you want to talk about this further or explore other options that you have you can give us a call. 1-800-RUNAWAY

[Unregistered]

Ace

I have bus ticket that was bought for me and messages from Facebook too that's all tho

[ccsmod0]

Re: 17 year old runaway law in Colorado

Hello again,
Thank you for replying so promptly.
Having these items is a great start!
If you wouldn't mind giving us a call we can explore some options tat you have now that you do have these items.
The number is 1-800-RUNAWAY

[Jillian]

Im 17 in a half in a foster home.

I recently got out of a behavior institute and into a foster home here in Colorado. I havent lived with my mom since I was 15 years because my mother was physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive. My step dad was sexually abusive too. She was also physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive to all my siblings and has abused drugs and alcohol throughout her life, from Vodca to methamphetamines she's done it all. CPS took all my siblings away from her while I was in Texas (right after I turned 15, a couple years ago) horribly she still somehow has custody of me which Pisses Me Off! So I can only stay here for 3 months. I swear if I go back I'll runaway or die a sudden death. My mom might even kill me herself like she's threatened to do several times yet Muther********ing Colorado won't take custody of me or open a case. This is bull********. So, I need some advice because this ******** is too much. My mom is a phyco path and I feel she needs to go to prison again. I need some legal help or something because I'm so done!

[ccsmod8]

RE: Im 17 in a half in a foster home.

Hello there –

Thanks for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline on our public forum. From your post to us here, we can see that you’re going through a really hard time right now. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. You certainly don’t deserve to be treated that way at all. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on and thinking about what would happen if you did leave your house. It seems very strange that the state wouldn’t consider your thoughts or feelings about what happened to you before they took you into their custody. Do you know if there was some type classes or training that your mother might have done with the state in order to keep custody of you? Sometimes that is a requirement depending on the charges. Also, if you are feeling that you are in danger or scared please don’t hesitate to call out to the police. They can come and check up on things for you.
If you’re thinking about running away from home there might be some consequences. Generally what typically happens in each state is if you are below the legal age of majority (18 in most states except Alabama and Nebraska [19 or upon marriage], and Mississippi [21]), your parents would be able to make a runaway report in the event that you do run away. Since it’s only considered a statues offense and not a crime to run away, the only thing that would happen is that the police will pick you up and bring you back home. This is of course if you had any interaction with the police directly or if they stopped you to ask you a few questions. It can be a little tricky at the age of 17, but there are some cases in which a police officer won't take a runaway report for someone that is 17. Especially if there are a little closer to turning 18 years old, along with having already graduated high school. This is not the case all the time of course, but it is something that we have heard of happening before. The only way to know for sure of that would be to reach out to your local non-emergency police and asking them hypothetical questions about running away. Knowing some facts about the subject can help you formulate a plan of action and you can see for yourself what would be possible and what isn't possible for you to do.

If you give us a call on our 24/7 hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) we could help you find resources in your area and could potentially help you brainstorm a possible solution to the issues you are having. We would love to talk to you about what has been going on recently that is making you want to leave home. We also have an online chat service available every day.

[Unregistered]

Re: 17 year old runaway law in Colorado

Lately my parents and I have not been getting along at all. They have told me to get out of their house but every time I agree they say no and threaten to call the cops on me and report me as a runaway. I am 17 years old, I have a job, and am going into my senior year of high school. I want to move out, and yes I know many 17 year olds say that and want that but I honestly feel like moving out is the best choice for me. Every time me and my parents get into a fight they tell me to move out and when I try they threaten to call the cops, report me as a runaway and try to call "statutory rape" on my 18 year old fiancé. This is all ridiculous and I want to know if they can really do this to me and him? They have also constantly said that if I go to the police they will tell them that I tried to either attack my mom or my grandma, or they'll even say that I got in my father's face. Which none of this is true but the police have believed them in the past. I just want to know what it is that I can do. I honestly can't take fighting with them anymore and I'm tired of hearing how much I ruin my siblings lives and how I am going to be the cause of my parent's divorce if I keep being the way that I am. Please help? Let me know what I can do and if they really can call me a runaway and get my fiancé in trouble?