running away to another state

[Guest]

hi i want to run away to go see my boyfriend. i live in houston and i want to go to california or pennsylvania, i am scared i am going to get caught or get introuble.

[ccsmod3]

Hi, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are wanting to run away to go see your boyfriend. It is important to consider safety when trying to get to another state and it sounds like you would be tentatively going quite a distance which can get dangerous. So in general what could happen if you runaway, is your parent/guardian could make a runaway report with police and if you are found, you would likely be brought back home. Also whoever you are staying with could be charged with what’s called harboring a runaway. If you would like to talk more about this, please call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away with my friend forever. like never come back. we are thinking about coloring our hair and leave the state. we live near Chicago and want to go to a different state. what bus should we take? how much time do we have until the police start looking for us

please help with tips and tricks

[ccsmod3]

Hi, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are planning to run away with a friend and figuring out how to do so. We care about your safety as that is the most important part. It is important to think about where you would be going, if that would be safe, how you would take care of yourself (like food/water/hygiene). As to what bus you should take, that could depend based on where you are trying to go. We know Greyhound is a bus line that can get people to another state, but generally people under 17 need guardian permission to get a ticket. It can also depend on how long it takes for police to start looking for you, given when your guardians file a runaway report with them and also how old you are. If you would like to talk more about why you are wanting to run away or some possible alternatives, we are here 24/7. If this interests you, please either call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello I'm harley and I need some advice how do I run away like because I wanna go to oregon first stay there a few weeks and then go to Oklahoma and then live their with someone knows me but how will pass the gates and the borders. Btw I wanna start a new life and leave it all behind so thanks if you can get back to me and I really thank you for your time so yeah and also have a great day

[ccsmod10]

Hi Harley. 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. Even though that seems like one of your only options, we here have figured out talking to someone you trust about what's going on can really help you find other ways to deal with the stressors in your life. That is always a first good step when dealing with challenging times.

In case that isn't possible, here is some information on running away.  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 may better answer legal questions. 

 We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat. 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

[Guest]

If I run away to another state, and my parents know what state, can they do anything? Can the police in the new state detain me?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out with your question. If you are under 18 and run away to another state your parents have the right to file a local as well as national runaway report with law enforcement. Police in the state you go to would be able to detain you until you are released to your parents or transported back to your home state. We realize this might not be exactly what you wanted to hear but we would like to discuss your situation further to help you figure out a plan for dealing with your situation. The best way we can do that would be for you to call our 24/7 confidential hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us online via the chat feature on our website: www.1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon!

Stay safe,
NRS Crisis Team

[Guest]

Hey. I'm 17 and I'm wanting to run away. I've been talking to my bf for a while and we planned that I could live with him but I live in SC and he lives in Oregon. I have no money and idk what to do. I need help getting away but idk how to get free rides without giving someone sex. Please help

[ccsmod14]

Hi, thank you contacting the National Runaway Safeline. You're brave for sharing your story and NRS is here to listen and support you. NRS understands that you are contemplating on running away and NRS understand that do have your reasons. Please don't consider giving your body away for money. NRS can help you explore options to provide you with transportation. In making your decision, here are some things to consider: 18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once you are filed 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. Generally speaking, if you encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, you will likely be returned home. However, in that case there may be services (family counseling, etc.) available to you as a youth in crisis/runaway but again, police procedures related to offering those services can be different based on your location or the details of your situation. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows you to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. One way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.

NRS want you to know that we are here as support to help you with your decision and 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 contact our 24/7 crisis support line either by phone or chat.


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.



We hope to hear from you soon.



Be safe,

NRS