16yr old runaway

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RE: 16yr old runaway

Hello,

Thank you for writing us here on the National Runaway Safeline bulletin board, we are always here to listen and help in any way that we can. From what you have told us, it sounds like you have been going through a very tough time at home. It must be very frustrating not to be able to express yourself in your own home and do the things that you want to do.

Now you stated in your message that you have been thinking about running and staying hidden for a year. Now you told us that you are about to turn 17 years old and in most states you are under the age of majority and are still considered a minor, your parents still had the right to file a runaway report of you. What that means is that if a police officer were to pick you up, they would see that you have a report filed under your name and take you back home to your mother or held until arrangements can be made to take you back home. If a report has been filed with the police, the people that you are planning on hiding out with can be charged with “harboring a runaway” which can result in legal act and consequences.

Now running away is not considered to be a crime, but more a “status offense.” So like we stated before in most cases they would just return you home back to your parents, which does not seem like something you want to do. Another thing that might happen once you turn 18 years old is that the runaway report will no longer apply if the age of majority is considered 18 in your state. Which means you can move out on your own at that point.

Keep in mind that these are just the general rules that apply to most states, but since we aren’t legal experts we can’t say anything for certain. Every states might have different laws on how runaway children are handled; sort of a case by case thing. So you always have the option to get into contact with your local non-emergency police number and ask them hypothetical questions about runways and how they are handled in that specific state. This should give you a more direct answer.

Once again thank you for writing into the NRS. You can also call into our 24hour hotline (1.800.RUNAWAY) for a more immediate response, as well as connect you to some resources that we might have on hand. If you still choose to runaway and find yourself without a place to stay you can always get into touch with us (toll-free so you can even us a payphone) to provide you with a shelter. Another service that we offer here at the NRS is our chat room which is offered from 4:30pm to 11:30pm/CST (www.1800RUNAWAY.org). If you feel more comfortable with that opinion we are more than welcome to contact us through that.

Look forward to talking with you and best of luck.

hi.. I'm 16 years old. Ill be 17 in November. Then I obviously have a year till I'm 18. I've been thinking about running away because my family is Muslim and I don't agree with anything they say. So anytime there's something little or big they don't like, I get punished. Whether its physical or mental. I've had a summer job so far but once they found out my boyfriend of almost a year came to see me. They made me quit and they forbid me to see him again. Which is so hard because I seriously have noooo friends. He's my bestfriend and i tell him everything. This isn't just a stupid high school relationship. It's serious or else why would I risk getting in trouble for it. Anyways. Things at home are pretty crappy right now. Things get physical at times. My family seriously hates me. All I do is stay home and clean. I go nowhere and do nothing. It's as if they're trapping me at home to be their little slave. The only way I'm being able to post this Q is cause I have an iPod my parents don't know about. Anyways my question is.. If I were to runaway and stay hidden for a year, when I turn 18, am I going to be charged or in trouble or go to jail? How does that work?