Running away to a friends house

[Guest]

I’m 16 years old and have ran away before because of my relationship with my mother. I am mentally abused and constantly put down or getting yelled at. I understand that at 16 I am legally allowed to get emancipated but I don’t think it would work considering the fact that my mom won’t let me get a job and I’m on certain medications. I live in the state of Oklahoma and have read that a runaway is technically an unemancipated minor who is voluntarily absent from home for 48 hours or longer. This confuses me because I now have charges for running away yet I was gone for only an hour at my friends house then came back. I have no idea what to do and I need some help.

[ccsmod15]

Thanks so much for reaching out to NRS. Abuse is never okay, and no one deserves to be put down like that. It's understandable you'd be looking for a way out of that environment.

We're not legal experts, but generally when a youth is reported as a runaway, it gives the police the right to find them and bring them home -- but running away is not a crime. It is very unlikely you were formally charged with anything, but If you're concerned, you can call the non-emergency number of your local police department to confirm.

In terms of next steps, one option you have is to report the abuse you have been experiencing. You can do this by telling a teacher or nurse at school, or calling the Oklahoma Child Abuse reporting hotline at 1-800-522-3511. If you'd like to ask some questions about how abuse reporting works and what could happen after that, a good resource is called Child Help. They are an anonymous hotline like NRS and their number is 1-800-422-4453.

It can be very hard to deal with the stress of abuse by yourself. Sometimes it can help just to have someone to talk to and get things off your chest. Another option to think about is finding a therapist or counselor. Your school may have one on staff, or if you want to call us at 1-800-786-2929, we can find resources in your area.

It shows a lot of courage that you are reaching out for help and researching all your options before making your next move. We are here for you 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929 if you want to talk more about your situation or brainstorm other ideas.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I just turned 14 and im pregnant and my parents said that they would kick me out if i ever became pregnant. My babies father and i are still dating but he lives in florida and i live in virginia but his parents are very supportive and said i could come live with them so im planning to run away and his older brother might come pick me up or i can ask a friend and they can give me a ride down there and ill pay for gas money. would it be bad for me to leave and am i too young to have other ppl be my parent or guardians?

[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 and we want you to know that you are not alone.
Being pregnant at any age can be stressful, and we are sorry to hear that your parents have threatened to kick you out if you became pregnant. We want you to know that because you are a minor it is considered neglect if they were to kick you out which you are able to report. If you wanted to report your parents for neglect you can call Child help at 1800-422-4453. You can also call us or your local police department to make a report.
There is support out there for you to help you with your pregnancy and you can consult with a doctor for any health related questions. You can reach out to Planned Parenthood at 1800-230-7526, they also have an online chat at plannedparenthood.org. Another resource that can help you is called Heartbeat International and they can be reached at 1800-712-4357.
We also know that you mentioned wanting to leave home, we are not legal experts but do have some information on leaving home as a minor. 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 it is likely that they would bring you back home.
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. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

My best friend wants to run away to my house because her parents are disrespectful and treat her like she is a moron. We live in Wisconsin and she has already runway before. Could I get in trouble for letting her stay at my house?

[Guest]

I have ran away to my friends house and i dont want him to get in trouble i am 12 and he is 24 years old . he has his own place anyways we live in California. Is this legal or illegal????

i ran away because my parents abuse me so much and he understands because his parents did the same thing.

What do i do?

[ccsmod16]

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. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

We are always here to help you discover what your options are and to talk it through. Please reach out if you need anyone to talk to over the phone or through the chat on our website. We're here 24/7!

[Guest]

I'm 10

I'm 10 and I want to run away to my friends house. My parents treat me like sh!t and get angry at me easily. when they do they beat me with a belt. sometimes the belt breaks and i have scars. will my friend be in trouble if i run to her house

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for contacting National Runaway Safeline. It was brave of you to reach out for support. Please know that we can always provide you with the support you need. It might be a good idea to see if you are able to call in or chat online (1-800-786-2929 or www.1800runaway.org) to get more specific details regarding what to do in your situation. We have many resources that can help youth find shelters, counseling services, legal information, and much more. We can also help you report any abuse that might be happening at home so that a caseworker will be notified to assess your situation if necessary.



You mentioned that you want to run away to your friend’s house. Some information that might be helpful to keep in mind is that those who are younger than 18 typically cannot leave home without their guardian’s permission. So if you were to run away, your parents can call the police to file a runaway report. If that were to happen, they could look for you and bring you back home if found.



You are going through a lot, and we appreciate you reaching out to us. Please feel free to contact us whenever is suitable for you as we are open 24/7. If you feel that you are in immediate danger, please do not hesitate to contact the police (911) to get immediate assistance.



We hope to hear from you soon,
NRS

[Guest]

im 13 years old and im wanting get away to a friends house will i get in legal trouble

[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 forum 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
National Runaway Safeline | National Runaway Safeline
Call 1-800-RUNAWAY if you are thinking of running from home, if you have a friend who has runaway, or if you are a runaway ready to go home.

[Guest]

i am 64 y,o grandma who got a text from my older daughter on Thursday that her niece , my oldest granddaughter 13 1/2 had been missing since tues. night. they got the police involved, took days off and closed in to find her safe and sound, is the parent of her friend liable to harbor a minor without notifying her parents that must have been sick with worry. this was in iowa city, coralville iowa area. she said she did not feel loved by her family that could not be further from the truth

[ccsmod7]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s been going on. We are glad to hear that your granddaughter was located safely. 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 a minor leaves home without consent, those they 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 your legal questions as we are not legal experts here at NRS.

We are here to help and support as much as we are able. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by forum 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 years old and i’m currently trying to get emancipated to get out of an abusive home. my uncle has legal guardianship over me. he told me that if i was going to get emancipated not to come back home, then later changed his story. i feel unsafe being home and i want to go stay with a friend because i don’t want to be here anymore. my friends mom doesn’t want to get in any trouble if she lets me stay there. i did research and it said that as long as she calls the police and let them know i’m there and safe that i can stay and i won’t have to go back home if i don’t want to, but i’m scared on what will happen if i do have to come home. i’ve called child protective services on my uncle twice and both times they’ve made me stay here. is leaving my best option? because i heard emancipation can take up to 9 months and i turn 18 in 7 months. please help me.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand that it takes great courage to reach out and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s been going on. No one deserves to feel unsafe in their home or to be abused by their legal guardian. It is completely understandable that you have been thinking about leaving home given the circumstances and it sounds like you have put a lot of thought into what might be the best way to do so. While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without guardian permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your guardian may file a runaway report and you could be forced to return home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. Once you turn 18, you are generally considered an adult and are able to leave home and move out. However, specific laws and rules may differ depending on where you live, so it might be a good idea to contact your local non-emergency police department or legal aid to ensure you and your friend have the correct information.

Unfortunately, we cannot advise you what to do as you know your situation best. As you continue to think about your options, we would encourage you to reach out to us through our chat or hotline so that we can further discuss your situation in detail. If you do decide you would like to leave home, we could talk about ways to try to maximize your safety during the process. We could also discuss options to increase your safety at home or ways to make living at home more bearable during the next seven months until you turn 18. For example, some people might find it helpful to spend as much time as they can at school or will join an extracurricular activity that allows them to spend more time away from their guardians. Other people might find it comforting to talk to counselors at their school and by sharing what they are going through with another trusted adult or individual, they are better able to cope with what is going on at home. These are just some possible ideas, and we understand that every situation is unique and that what works for some people will not work for others.

We understand that this may be a difficult situation and we are here to support you during this challenging time. Please feel free to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us at www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) to discuss your situation further. If you are ever at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You can also check out the website www.nationalsafeplace.org or text the word “safe” with your current location to 4HELP (44357) and you will right away receive the nearest Safe Place location that you can go to or be connected via texting to a trained counselor.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello! I'm 15, and I plan on running away to a friend's house because my parents are assholes who treat me like crap. I'm terrified of my current life and I've tried to hurt myself at some point. My parents know, and all my mother does is make jokes about it, and tells me that it's my fault. I live in Missouri. Would there be any legal complications with this?

[ccsmod6]

Hi there,
Thanks so much for sharing a bit about your struggles. We’re so sorry to hear that your home life has been so difficult. You are not to blame for the pain you’ve been experiencing. We hear you and we believe you. We’re sorry that your mother hasn’t taken your suffering seriously.
Generally speaking, running away is a status offense, not a crime. This means that if you were to run away and get caught you’d more often than not simply be returned home to your parents. One thing to consider is that any legal adults that you stay with might face charges for harboring a runaway. In this case, this could mean your friend’s parents might get in trouble.
What actions the police take once your parents report you 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.
It sounds as though your parents have not been treating you well. One thing to consider might be the abuse laws of your state and whether their behavior constitutes abuse. Filing an abuse report could help you to escape the situation in a legal and lasting way. If you feel as though this is an option you’d like to explore, reaching out to Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 or www.childhelp.org may help you to get a better understanding of how Child Protective Services may respond to your case.
If you would like to talk in more detail, please feel free to reach out to us. You can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or you can chat with us at www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). We’re here 24/7 if you want to talk.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

hate the way my family they are always abusing me i want to run away i hated my life since i was born

[ccsmod15]

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. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
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]

Hello. I am Ace. My girlfriend is being abused by her father. I believe her mother is not present in her life. I am doing some research. Would it be safe for her to come to me and my family's house? I am concerned for her and need a way for her to be helped ASAP. I live in USA, Virginia and so does my girlfriend. I need help for her. As fast as possible. I really don't want me to be the fault for law problems in my family. And my girlfriend would feel guilty if she ran away to my house and then my family faced legal consequences. I do not want to put her through that. We are both currently under the age of 15.

[ccsmod10]

Hello. I am Ace. My girlfriend is being abused by her father. I believe her mother is not present in her life. I am doing some research. Would it be safe for her to come to me and my family's house? I am concerned for her and need a way for her to be helped ASAP. I live in USA, Virginia and so does my girlfriend. I need help for her. As fast as possible. I really don't want me to be the fault for law problems in my family. And my girlfriend would feel guilty if she ran away to my house and then my family faced legal consequences. I do not want to put her through that. We are both currently under the age of 15.

Hi Ace, I'm glad you're reaching out for help. Your girlfriend is lucky to have someone who cares so much for her wellbeing. If she were to runaway from home (leave home without her parent's consent), she would be considered missing and her parent could file a runaway/missing child report with the police department. They would then investigate where she might be, likely including your home if you are close. Your family could be charged with harboring a runaway, so yes, it could cause some law problems. You and/or your girlfriend also have the option to file an abuse report. You could do so with someone at your school, or you can do so by calling us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. It would involve telling us a little bit about what she has been experiencing at home, and might lead to protective services engaging with your girlfriend/her family, ideally to make things safer. If you'd like more help thinking through your options or just need someone to listen about what's been going on, please feel free to chat or call us. We are confidential and available 24/7.

[Guest]

I want to get off bus with my friends and stay with them. Are there any legal or court problems that would be involved with staying at someone else's house?

[ccsmod10]

Hi, we're glad you're checking in for assistance. If you're under 18 in most states, you cannot legally choose to stay at a home other than your parent/legal guardian's home without their consent. If you were to get off the bus and stay with them overnight and not return home, your parents/guardians could contact law enforcement and report that you were missing. The police would then start an investigation to find you, and would start checking places it is likely you might be, such as your friends' homes. The people that are housing you could be charged with a misdemeanor called harboring a runaway, which could result in fines or jail time.

If you feel unsafe at home and want to discuss some options for staying somewhere safer, feel free to live chat us (1800runaway.org) or call us (1-800-RUNAWAY). We are available 24/7, and while we are not legal experts, we can talk through potential options with you to find what is right for you to do.

[Guest]

12 and wants to run away

What some things I need other than food, money, and cloths to run away and what would happen if I stayed at my friends house and the police tried sending me home? Can I get the right to stay with my friend or stay with a legal guardian close to my school? I live in tennesee.

[Guest]

I'm 12 years old and I want to run away to my best friend's house. I don't like my home life, and my friend said that her mom would be OK with it. But I don't want to get her or her family in trouble. I want to know if that is legal.

[ccsmod15]

Thank you so much for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. So sorry to hear that life at your house isn’t going well for you right now! It’s honestly very mature for someone only 12 years old to realize things might not be solid and happy in your own home and family so you should be proud of yourself for asking for help.



Since you have not given us what state you live in, it’s pretty hard to determine if your state has laws against harboring a minor. As we are not affiliated with any legal organization the information is something that can be found if we were to do a simple google search. While it’s great that your best friend’s mom is willing to take you in, it is very possible that she may get into some trouble just for having you there without your parents’ permission. Additionally, being so young, you will likely be returned to your own home which is something you should keep in mind. Even though things are tough are home right now, running away is not your only option. Here are NRS we have a database of resources that may helpful to you ranging from counseling and/or family counseling, as well as sources to help you deal with what’s going on at home. It would be great if you could reach out to us either via our chat option at www.1800runaway.org or via phone at 1-800-786-2929 if you would prefer to speak to someone. Getting a bit more information about what’s going on will allow us to really target resources that are close to where you live.



Again, thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. Please try to get in touch with us so that we can find out more about your situation and see what resources might be helpful to you. We are available 24/7 at both the chat lines and phone lines so whenever the time is right, please reach out to us.



Sincerely,



National Runaway Safeline.