Running away to a friends house

[ccsmod4]

IDK WHAT TO DO!

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 are frustrated by what’s going on at home and might be considering running away. Also you are thinking about taking a credit card that belongs to your mother. We are not legal experts but in general this might be consider theft if you were to do this and even more serious if you were to charge something on it. We understand that sometimes situations can feel overwhelming and it’s hard to know just how to handle them.

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

[Guest]

Hi I’m 13 years old I live in Surrey, England uk I want to runaway to my friends house what are the laws with thus

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to us, it seems like you are looking to get out of your home and live with your friend instead. There can be many feelings going on that may lead you to feel like this and we want you to know they are valid and that we want to help however we can.

We are however an organization based in the United States so we aren’t sure of your specific laws in England. So to avoid giving you any bad information we will instead direct you to an organization that is a better fit for your scenario which is https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/ . They should be well equipped to answer any questions you may have from a legal standpoint.

From a non-legal one there are some things we can recommend. The first would be that it might be worth just talking things out with your parents, and your friend. If that seems impossible or scary you could consider having a school counselor or another adult you trust act as a mediator and sit in on the conversation and help to prevent feelings being hurt. It can also feel good to just talk with someone about your problems.

We hope you get the help you need. Good luck and stay safe!

[Guest]

I wanna run away without
getting caught

[ccsmod11]

Hello –

Thank you for contacting us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes great courage to reach out. We are sorry to hear that life at home has caused you to want to leave.

Running away is a big decision and every person’s situation is different. Because of this, it is hard to say what your exact needs are for what to bring with. It may be easier to call us on our 24/7 hotline number, 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929), to learn more about what running away would look like for you and what you would need.

We hope the information provided helps. Remember we are available 24/7 and can be toll-free reached at the number listed above. We are confidential, anonymous, and non-direct. We can also be reached via live chat between 4:30pm and 11:30pm CST.

Best Wishes
~NRS

[Guest]

So my best friend has an awful home life and wants to run away to my house. She is 14 years old and we live in the state of Georgia. I want to help her.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for contacting us at the National Runaway Safeline. It takes great courage to reach out for help and we are glad that you are trying to help your friend.

We are sorry to hear that your friend is going through a hard time at home. If she is being abused in any way, that is not ok and she has the option to file an abuse report. If she chooses she has the option to file an abuse report. She can call Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 and they can help her provide information on filing an abuse report. If her safety is at risk she can call 911.

Leaving home can be hard and it can be helpful to to think about where she might live and how she might pay for food, rent, and other living expenses. We are not legal experts however, speaking generally if she is to leave home without her parents permission the police can bring her back home and whoever she is staying with could be charged with harboring a runaway and get in trouble with the law.
Talking to other persons she trusts, like other adult relatives, friends and school counselors can be helpful.

You are doing great by reaching out for your help and looking after her in hard time. Your or your friend can also reach out to us directly by calling us at 1-800-786-2929 and we would be happy to listen to you, explore your options and provide any resources.

We wish you and your friend the best.

Best
NRS

[Guest]

hey I have a 90 pound 16-year-old friend who is being beaten by her mother we are thinking of running away as an option if legal charges are called in and shes found in my home can we use her being beaten as an ethical amnesty to the charges? of harboring a runaway ?

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what's going on with your friend. Sounds like you're a great friend for caring so much about her safety and advocating for her! Your friend's mom's actions are unacceptable. If your friend is at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage her (or you) to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. Absolutely no one deserves to be abused and your friend has the right to report it. If you feel like this is an option she wants to explore, she may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help her file a report if that’s the route she is considering.

We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if she does opt to leave her home her mom 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 she located by the authorities she most likely be returned home. You also touched upon your concerns about harboring a runaway. If the police find her at your house, the adult of the household does run the risk of being 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 her mom views the situation. If she discloses the abuse to the police, they may let her stay with you but would be mandated to file a child abuse report with child protective services. If you'd like, you can reach out to your local nonemergency police line (311) for more information on local runaway policy.

Of course, it could be a good idea if your friend reaches out to us directly by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY. She can also us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. By speaking with her directly we can discuss what’s going on in depth, or explore other options that she may have available to her. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

hi so im 11 years old and i live in massachuesetts my parents are not like they used to be and they change their emotions quickly. They fight with my sister so much that im suprised that she hasnt run away if thers anything that you guys could help me understand it would be greatly apriceated

[ccsmod8]

Hello there -

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on. We are mainly here for support and help find some guidance to local resources that might be able to help a youth through their particular situation and we aren’t here to tell you what to do because you know your situation a lot better than we do. We just want you to know your options and with whatever you choose that you’re safe and not on the streets.

It sounds like you might some specific questions that you want to ask us or maybe find a place to vent about what you are feeling right now. It’s hard to talk to just anyone one about what has been going on. Please rest assured that we are completing confidential. So anything that you share with us will stay between us. We don’t ask for any identifying information, unless you want to report any abuse. We certainly want to help you.

Best of luck!

[Guest]

Hello hello! I am Owen, im 10 years old, would it be illegal for me to run away to my best friends house? she lives in texas (i think) and i live in louisiana
My mom and step dad are very aggressive when angry (Verbally, they never harm me psychically when sober) and have a long history of alchoholic abuse (Hitting, calling names, fighting, etc etc)
They also seem like they are fake, they claim they accept me as a trans but never call me by my true name, always dead naming me
Exp: "hey gabby come here"
No im Owen
"Sthu and come here"
i wouldnt call it actual abuse but i do want to run away from home

[ccsmod4]

Thanks for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. You made a great first step to finding the help that you may need. It sounds like you are going through a lot and the people around you are not being supportive. You deserve to be treated with respect, to experience acceptance and to feel safe. It is not your fault that your parents choose to behave badly towards you.

We want you to know that you are strong for having gone through so much already. It is perfectly okay to deviate from what others or the common population believe to be “normal”. Your bravery and resilience is so admirable. You are so strong for having gone through so much without having the acceptance that you do deserve for just being you. Remember that you are not alone. If you ever want to talk more about what you are experiencing or get additional support we are here 24/7 at 1800-RUNAWAY or our live chat service. The GLBT National Hotline at 1-888-843-4564 is another option to gain great support from those that are familiar with the issues and experiences of those that are also a part of the LGBTQ community. You can access their website link bellow to utilize all the other possibly useful resources they have to offer: http://www.glbthotline.org/

You mentioned that you were considering the options that may be best for you. By all means, if you do fear for your safety either now or in the future, do not hesitate to take the necessary steps to regain your safety. This may mean calling the authorities or possibly reporting the things you may be experiencing. To report any abuse contact Child Help 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org


Other options to think about may be other family members, friends, or a trusted adults that would be able to provide you with support or a safe place to stay. It is great that you thinking ahead. Should you feel like leaving home is best, it may be a good idea to think about how you will provide necessities for yourself such as food, clothing, showers, healthcare and other basic needs. We are not legal experts here, but typically as a minor (under the age of 1 you need permission from your parents to leave home. It is not illegal to run away, but it would mean that your parents could file a runaway report with the police. This is usually done in an effort to try to return you home as the police are required to do so.

If you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY we can try to find some youth shelters that may be in your city and state by utilizing our database of resources. We can also try to call out to shelters with you or on your behalf to advocate for you.

Stay Strong,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi im 15 and i feel like running away because i dont want to get into trouble with my mom. I feel like she goes too far with the consequences. Some consequences i get arent deservable. My friend said her mom will let me stay there but can i or they get in trouble with the law. I live in virginia, please help

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, and sharing some of your story with us. It sounds like you are going through a hard time right now. One option to consider is talking to your mother about how you feel. At NRS we offer conference calling to help you have these conversations. You would call out to us and we can call your parents and have a conference call. Conference calling allows you to be heard and we are there to provide support and mediate the conversation. Another option may be to talk with your school counselor about what is going on they may be able to help provide support and resources for you.
You mentioned wanting to stay with a friend, we are not legal experts but we do have some general information on the laws. If you were to leave without permission your legal guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. If the police do find you they most likely would bring you home. Also whoever you were to stay with could potentially get in trouble for harboring a runaway. That could be a fine they would need to pay or a misdemeanor.
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. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away to my best friends house. Is that a smart idea? Could his family get in trouble? Please help

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on. We are mainly here for support and help find some guidance to local resources that might be able to help a youth through their particular situation and we aren’t here to tell you what to do because you know your situation a lot better than we do.

Now as you have read in other replies or threads that we aren't legal experts here but like we tell a lot of our callers, the laws on that specific subject of running away vary from state to state, so our advice would be call your local non-emergency police number to get more information on that. 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 or legal guardian 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.

Now if your parents did file a runaway report, they can choose to press charges on those for harboring a runaway (ie. friend or neighbor). Harboring a runaway is when that party is not giving accurate information on a runaways whereabouts. That could lead to a number of different legal issues such as misdemeanor charges (fines or jail charges). From what we know it isn’t something that typically happens, but it is in place to detour individuals from helping runaway minors from not returning home or lying on a runaways behalf.

Your parent(s) may give you permission to live with another family/friend or relative, but without getting an official document from the court they would still be legally responsible for you. Which means that they can also take away that permission at any given moment and take you back home to live with them once again. So that can be an option for you if you feel like your parent(s) might respond well to you living someplace else. Maybe coming up with a solid plan about what you’re planning on doing, how everything is going to work, and any miscellaneous things could be helpful in them seeing how much work you have put into this plan.

Hope this answers your questions!

[Guest]

I'm and 16 can I leave and go live with my boyfriend outta state? What can my mom do and what can my boyfriend get charged with?

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and it is good that you are taking the initiative to look into the legal aspects of leaving home.

We are not legal experts, but in general it is not illegal to run away. If you leave home, your mom does have the right to call the police and file a runaway report. That means if you're found, the police could return you back home. The police do not always actively search for runaways, but if your mom had an idea of where you were she could ask them to check it out and bring you home.

In many states, there is a "harboring a runaway" law which basically means that if an adult, like your boyfriend's parents, lets you stay with them and they know that you don't have permission to be there, they can get in trouble with the law. Although these laws are not often enforced, assisting a runaway teenager may result in criminal charges for harboring a runaway or contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

We hope this information has been helpful to you! We want to be here to support you however we can. If you'd like to talk more about your situation, please give us a call at 1-800-786-2929, or chat with us through our website at www.1800RUNAWAY.org. We are 24/7, always here to listen, here to help.
Best of luck!

NRS

[Guest]

hi,im 15 im in grade 10 and ive been smoking weed since 9th grade,my life sucks i have depression and my step mom smelled weed in my room so i gave her my grinder ect. i want to run away and go to my second family which is my bestfriends house i could just go onto the bus ride home with her after school her mom loves me. I dont know what to do im also failing math and my step mom is very strict

[ccsmod15]

Hey there thanks for reaching out
It seems like you have a lot going on right now that makes things seem really difficult. Depression is difficult for anyone to go through especially with a strict parent at home and pressure from grades. It is understandable you would want to escape the situation.
Going to your friend’s house without letting your parents know might result in them filing a runaway report which means if the police find you they would simply bring you back home. There might be a risk of your friend’s parents getting in trouble for harboring a runaway as well. If you have parents’ permission you can usually stay as long as you want at someone else’s house though.
It might be worth trying to talk to your teacher about your math scores and see if there is something you can do to get a better grade. Often times if you are willing to show you are trying to learn a teacher will do their best to help you and give you a passing grade. There are good and bad teachers though, but don’t be afraid to ask for help!
If you do need other help or have other questions you can always call or chat with us at 1-800-786-2929. Stay strong!

[Guest]

Hello, i recently ran away from home. I am 16 and live in Ottawa Kansas, my mother had told me not to come home to get clothes or anything and not to come to the house to go and leave as i please. so i haven't returned home and I have been staying with a friend for about a week now and they have provided me with all my needs and concerns. but today my mom decides to text me and say she is sending the police to my friends location. i was wondering if their is anyway I could stay without them taking me back home to my mom. We are always fighting and she puts her hands on me but i do not currently have any marks or bruises. what can i do, in order to not be forced to go back to my mom. and is their anyway my friends parents could get custody of me without my mothers consent.

[ccsmod6]

Hey there,
Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline, we understand it can be difficult to reach out and we are glad you did. You are a brave person for reaching out. It seems like you have gone through a lot with the fighting and your mom putting her hands on you. You do not deserve to be treated so unfairly like that.
You do have a right to report. Even if you may not have any marks or bruises, your mother putting her hands on you is hurting you more than just physically. If you have any questions about reporting you can contact Child Help, they are the National Child Abuse Hotline, and they can answer any questions you may have about reporting, what the outcome may look like, as well as being there for you if you want to talk about what is going on at home. Their number is 1-800-422-4453, you can also go on their website and start a chat with them at www.childhelp.org. We can also help you file that report if it is something you are interested in.
Now we are not legal experts, but unfortunately because you are still a minor, if your mother does decide to make a runaway report to the police and since she is your legal guardian, the police will remove you from your friend’s home and take you back home or there is the possibility they will detain you at the station until your mom picks you up. Along with your mom making a runaway report, your friend and her parents could be put at risk for harboring a runaway, they can get charged with a fine or it been seen as a misdemeanor. Until you are 18 years old, you would need your mother’s consent when it comes to a different living arrangement, for you to not be forced to go back home you would have to make the abuse report because after that they are going to make decisions based off what is best for you. We are not sure off the top of our heads about your friend’s parents being able to obtain custody but if you want to talk more in depth about your situation or have any more questions, we can provide resources to legal services who may have a more concrete answer. We are here for you and here to help you, do not hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or start a chat with us at www.1800runaway.org.

Best of Luck,
NRS

[Guest]

im 12 and I hate it at home my parentes are devorced and I want my friends house to be my new home my parents have not abused me or anything like that I would just rather live there because I feel like it would be a good thing my mom wont give up custity and my dad wont eather so im thinking on running away to there house but I know they would bring me back to my mom so I wan them to have full custity

[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 really difficult time right now. Divorce can be really difficult and overwhelming for everyone involved.
We are not legal experts but do have some information on the laws. If you were to leave home without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If the police do find you they most likely would bring you home. Also whoever you were to stay with could potentially get in trouble for harboring a runaway.
You could consider talking with a school counselor about what has been going on. Sometimes talking to a professional can help you feel better and they may be able to provide you with resources. We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore your options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

So I’m 16, my home life is pretty stressful and I cannot live here anymore, I’d like to run away to my friend’s house, but I don’t know if there is a law for that in Michigan. And I have no idea what to do. I wanna live with my friend because it’s more reliable and my name wouldn’t get talked down on there.

[ccsmod4]

Hello,
Thanks for contacting 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.
Just so that you know we are not legal experts and only can provide some general legal information when it comes to someone running away or someone assisting/aiding a person running away.

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 would like to talk more in detail 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 should ever be at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).


Take care,
NRS