What are the consequences of helping a 17 year old move out in PA

[Unregistered]

This advice is concerning a friend of mine who has been residing in an unhappy household for quite some time. He is a resident of Pennsylvania who is 17 and will be turning 18 in mid-February of 2015. I am currently living in Wisconsin and am 20. We have been close friends for a while and I have personally meet his parents and I would agree with him that they partake in a significant amount of emotional and psychological abuse towards him. There is also some marijuana use involved with his mother. He had been held back in public school until his parents had him drop out and enroll in online school. He is still very behind (hasn't finished 9th grade) and with low grades that might cause him to be kicked out of the online school program he is a part of. I am living on my own in an apartment with a full time job and a college degree, and want more than anything to provide a safe place for him to grow. I have already researched GED requirements and his ability to work in Wisconsin, and I know without a doubt that he would be much safer and happier here.

If I were to pick him up and bring him here to live with me, what are the possible outcomes? I know as a minor his parents can file a missing persons report to have him sent back, but with the verbal abuse and drug use, as well as my ability to provide him with a safe living condition and a way to get an education, I think I have a pretty solid case to why he should stay with me. I just don't want to get him caught up in a messy legal battle, or have him wind up in the hands of Child Services.

[ccsmod6]

re: What are the consequences of helping a 17 year old move out in PA

Hi

Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear about what your friend is going through at home. It sounds like you are a good friend and is concerned about your friend's well-being. It seems that you have a supportive and safe environment to offer your friend. It sounds like you are concerned about the overall legal consequences of him leaving home without permission.

The age of majority, in most states is 18, is the age recognized by that state as an adult. In some states minors can legally move out before reaching the age of majority. To determine if a minor can legally move out at 17, you can try contacting your local police nonemergency hotline. If youth are unable to legally move out until the age of 18 in your county and/or state, his or her parents still have the right to file that individual as a runaway.

It is hard to determine how exactly the police will handle the case because it varies a lot by state, county, and even city. Generally speaking once a runaway report if filed, it is then entered into a national law enforcement database.
The police do not actively search for runaways. However if a runaway is picked up by the police on the streets, transportation arrangements for the youth to return home is usually made (i.e. police drop youth off at home or legal guardian pick youth up from station). If a runaway report is filed, charges can be filed against someone suspected of abiding or harboring a runaway. How likely will the charges hold up in court is another question and unfortunately we do not know.

We hope the information provided helps. Remember we are available 24/7 and can be reached by dialing 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). Our hotline is confidential, anonymous, and toll-free. In addition to our hotline, you can receive live assistance via CHAT between 4:30pm and 11:30pm.

Best Wishes
~NRS

[Guest]

What are the consequences for taking in a 17 yr old runaway in the state of Pennsylvania

[ccsmod13]

Hello,

Thanks for taking the time to write us here at NRS. Generally speaking, parents are a minor's legal guardians until they turn 18, so they can decide where this person lives. If the young person decides to leave home without permission, the parents can report them as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means that if parents know where the young person is staying they might be able to get the police to assist with returning them home. There is a possibility that whoever the young person stays with is at risk of being charged with harboring a runaway although from what know this is not common. Some counties in Pennsylvania do not even take runaway reports for someone who is 17. If this is the case then there would not be a risk of harboring charges and police would not intervene to force the young person home. You can call the local police department's non-emergency number where the parents live to ask about their runaway and harboring charges.

We hope this information helps! You and the young person can reach back out anytime at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat at 1800runaway.org. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible.

Good luck,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17...2 months away from turning 18 in Pa can I move out and in with my 18 year old boyfriend due to sexual harassment?

[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. You mentioned sexual harassment and it causes some concern that you may not be safe at home. If you are currently 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 physical or sexual 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.

We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your legal guardians 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 you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned home. Since you are so close to turning 18 the police could potentially let you stay where you are but that varies from town to town. You may want to call your local nonemergency police line (usually you can just dial 311) to verify your town's policy.

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.

Stay safe,
NRS

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