running away to another state

[Guest]

Hey my name is ty and I’m 16 and I’ll be 17 in 9 days and I ran away from home will the police be able to do anything to me.

[ccsmod0]

Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to write to us here. We understand you might be aggravated from your situation, but we are here to help. Your post sound really familiar. We were able to find another guest’s post that is similar to yours. We believe that this reply could be used for you too.

Jayden.. i am in the same boat..except i am 14 and i want to runaway from bartow to either new york or los angeles.. i have no clue how i will leave without them knowing
RE: 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 email 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

If you have any follow up questions please give us a call. 1-800-786-2929

[Guest]

Hi, I go by Bee and I am trying to run from home. I am not getting abused or anything, in fact I think my parents do care for me and I may care for them, idk. It has just been super stressful here. My mom is tired of trying to help me, and my dad gets mad for making my mom stressed. I know its stupid but I have been talking to someone through Discord for a while now after meeting from memes. We clicked instantly and whenever i feel trapped i will talk to him. I've purposely 'joked' about running away to him, and he has replied with 'i would take you in lol.' We have talked everyday since September and i would honestly be lost without him, i would have given up. After a while he recently said he cant wait til he graduates so he will be able to come get me. I liked that idea a lot. My friend lives in Texas, so i can also assure a place to stay. He is going to college and i wanted to get a job. I am 16 btw. Does anyone have any tips of how to not get caught? If I get a completely new phone and email? I also looked into this strip club and it says they need waitresses. Its nothing flashy just all black clothes like pants and a shirt and they seem very nice actually. It would be my best bet. Any tips? Messages?

[ccsmod6]

Hi Bee, thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like your friend has been really supportive of you during your recent journey. Sometimes our home lives can get a bit stressful and overwhelming but it sounds like you have two loving parents who care for you but they may just get a bit stressed out at times. Stress is normal and it can happen from time to time. However, with the right coping skills stressful situations can become lighter. It sounds like you are pretty eager to go away and live with your friend however it might be important to know that at 16 years old you are still considered a minor. Therefore, your parents do have the right to file a runaway report and if you come into contact with police you may be required to return back home. Your friend could also potentially be charged with harboring a runaway so this may be something else to keep in mind. In addition to that you may also want to start brainstorming how you’re going to keep yourself safe in Texas just in case you two meet up and it’s turns out not to be what you thought it would be. You might even want to consider keeping some emergency cash for a bus ticket back home or start thinking about who you can call if things don’t work out. In addition, you can always contact police at any time if you are feeling unsafe. Although, we are also not legal experts but getting a new phone and email address doesn’t necessarily decrease the risk of getting caught. If you happen to need any additional resources or would like to discuss your situation further please do feel free to reach out to our hotline at 1800-runaway or come chat with us at 1800runaway.org All the best, NRS.

[Guest]

im ****** and im planning on running away to my friends house and living there for a couple of months untill my grandma in florida picks me up to live with her im in georgia right now but when i go to my grandmas im gonna have my 18 year old boyfriend come with me and im 15 turning 16 also im not gonna tell my grandma that i ran away what should i do?

[ccsmod7]

Hello there, thanks for reaching out today. Sounds like you have a plan to run to your friend's house and then your grandma's house without her knowing your a runaway. Here at NRS, we are non-directive, non-judgemental, and we truly want to be a support for you and inform you so you can make the decision that is best for you.

One thing to consider if you are running with your 18 year old boyfriend is that he would probably considered a legal adult by police, and while running away is not illegal, helping someone runaway and harboring a runaway is illegal. So it is possible he could be at risk of getting into legal trouble if you all are found together. Also, your guardians can report you as a runaway if you do decide to leave home and they might let your grandma know that you are a runaway if they have contact with her. If your grandma and/or your friend know that you are a runaway, they also could be at risk of being charged with harboring a runaway if you are found with them.

It seems like you might be looking for help with your plan. Here at NRS, we would be happy to go over your plan with you and help brainstorm your options. Please do not hesitate to call or chat us if you would like to have that conversation. Here at NRS, we are primarily concerned about your safety and want to see you through this. We are always here for you: 1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.

Stay safe and reach out if you need!

-NRS

[Guest]

I don't have very good parents and I want to run away to Canada with my boyfriend but I'm scared of what could happen to him I am currently 15 turning 16 in December andhe is 18. Of course we wouldn't do it til we for sure had a plan and knew we wouldn't get caught when we leave but like if and when were were to make it to Canada and everything what would happen after that.

[ccsmod3]

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like things have been pretty difficult at home. Unfortunately, going to Canada may not protect you from the police. We cannot give exact specifics because we are not lawyers or police officers. We would be more than glad to help connect you with those resources and to help you to try to find answers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us via phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY or via our chat function on our website. We hope to hear from you.

[Guest]

Hi I'm Lanessa and I'm 17 years old i wont be 18 til August but I wanna run away to Ohio to go be with my boyfriend he's 18 I live I missouri right now my main issue is that I'm in states custody im just tired of everything from them and I don't feel like they are helping me with anything so me and my boyfriend are planning to run away in Ohio your a minor under 18 but in Missouri your a legal adult at 17 I don't wanna get him trouble but we want to be able to be together and start our a new journey can you please help me by tellking me anything I need to know bout this risk ?

[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. You would be taking a big risk just to go to him and not wait till youre 18 he could face more serious charges since you are a minor.
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 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]

HiHi im 19 amd I want to move out of my house ive done it before but my parents posted a missing person report and it got taken down so my parents went to get gardiaanship papers for me to stay in there house my life isnt great I have a job but work it to much so I sont have to be in my house how can i leave with my parents having guardianship papers on me for a year??

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thanks for reaching out to us here on our public forum to get some help. Hopefully by helping you through your situation there are others that can be helped by reading through this reply.

It sounds like you’re not really being listened to at home when you were trying to move out and be independent. It’s great that you do have a way to support yourself with maintaining a full-time job and it seems like you are trying to plan ahead so that you aren’t forced to be there any longer. Now depending on which state you live in, 18 is the age of majority and when you become a legal adult and are able to move out on your own. There are three states, AL and NE where you have to be 19 years old and MS where you have to be 21 years old in order to be considered an adult. So if you live in one of those three states then it would seem that your parents still do have custody over you. Another way that your parents could gain extended custody over you legally pass the age of majority is if they went to court and had you mentally evaluated and found mentally incapable of taking care of yourself in an adult capacity and need to remain under their care.

If none of those two things happened, you would just be considered an adult and are able to just move out without fear of being brought back home. Now if you haven’t told them where you are or have cut all communication with them, they can call the police still but to file a missing person’s report rather than a runaway report. It wouldn’t affect you at all though because they don’t normally come up on background checks. You can always go to the police and tell them that you aren’t missing. Again, as an adult, you have the right to decide where you live and your parents cannot force you to do anything. Alternatively, if you do cut out your parents completely you would be burning a bridge that you might not be able to cross back if things don’t work out for you at the place you plan on moving into.

If you need to talk more about your situation you are more than welcome to reach out to us here. Best of luck!

[Guest]

One of my friends wants to run away to New York but idk what to do

[ccsmod4]

Reply: One of my friends wants to run away


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. You might consider giving our contact information in case they would like to talk to someone about their situation and explore some options.

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. Also 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

We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

I moved states last summer it’s been so horrible. My grades have dropped I lost important very important school opportunities I had at my other school. I joined volleyball here to feel better but it was worst people. But point is my parents said we were moving a year after , aka this summer. But now they’re saying they want to stay ANOTHER YEAR and like so I can’t be here anymore like mentally I’m like going crazy and like I just can’t. I know it’s crazy and all but I can’t I really can’t be here anymore. So if my parents don’t let me go back to live with an aunt or some for a year I’m leaving on my own. I do have people who will help me but I’m 16, so like would they let be on the train alone, because it’s like a whole day train ride? And can my parents call the police on me once I’m over there? Help school is over in three weeks and I need to plan everything if they don’t let me leave because I will leave after school is out.

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you have had a lot of transition and its been difficult to manage but also not getting the same experiences you were having before. Great job to you for trying to join things to feel better. The first place to start would be getting permission from your parents. If you leave with out their permission then it would be considered running away. In most states, running away isn’t illegal, but what is called a status offense. You can’t get arrested for it but it will mostly likely go on your record until you are 18. The police will only know if you have runaway if your parents/guardians file a police report. We can’t say for sure how the police will respond, but we hear a lot that police will take potential places you might be and will actively search for you. If they come across you, the most likely will return you home to your parents. If it is your first time runaway away, their isn't usually any legal consequences. Sometimes we hear that if you are staying with someone who knows you are a runaway and are not actively trying to return you or finding shelter for you, your guardians/or police can press charges against the people who are housing you, with something that is called harboring.

Another thing that you can do is look into emancipation, where you can have the right of an adult. We are not legal experts, but we can help you get a general sense of how emancipation works. Our general understanding is some states offer formal emancipation statutes while others do not unfortunately. Laws vary depending on your location, but in many states a minor can petition the court for emancipation to take responsibility for their own care before they turn 18. Generally speaking, courts are wary about granting emancipation. In most cases, you would have to prove in court that you have an income and can care for yourself financially, and that you are able to live separately from your parents. It also helps to be in good standing at school. The court will also factor in the mental and physical welfare of your parents in order to establish your best interest. Usually your legal guardian would have to agree to this in court. Once you are emancipated, you can legally choose where you live, but you might still find that you cannot sign a lease or build credit until you turn 18. The emancipation process can take several months or up to a year, and may cost money in the form of court fees and other expenses. Usually, the best way to learn about emancipation in your state is to contact a lawyer. You may also find information at your county family court. We can look up legal aid resources that may be able to help you with the process. Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have questions, need legal resources, or need to talk. We can explore your situation, go over all your options, and come up with a plan and resources to deal with your situation over the phone or on live chat. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY or you can connect with us through chat through our website.

Regards,

NRS

[Guest]

Hey, I’m Rivers. Didn’t know I’d end up here, but I guess I’m going to say it. Within the next week, I will be leaving San Diego, California to Anchorage, Alaska, by myself, with only 10 dollars to my name. I’m 13, but my mom just doesn’t love me, when I try to talk to her about my deep mental scar tissue, she rages and yells. My dad does practically the same. I’m personally not worried about the legal aspects (screw the police) but I’m just wondering about the logistics of it all. I make money by playing guitar nearby so I have income, but I’m wondering what’s the cheapest way to get from California to Anchorage? I have no family in Anchorage, but I truly love Alaska and always dreamt of being there. Maybe some help?

Thanks,
Rivers

[Guest]

I’m trying to run away and I tell my dad I’m going to run away all the time but I know he’s going to call the cops. But if I run away to another state what will happen?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hey, I’m Rivers

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 the lack of emotional support from your parent’s are thinking about running away to Alaska. Things sometimes get frustrating and it’s difficult to navigate a way through.

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).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I’m trying to run away

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS).

We appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.
As of right now you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options.
It also sounds like you have run away before and have some concerns about what might happen if you are picked up by the police in another state.

While we are not experts on the law, someone under 18 that leaves home, the parent/guardian may file them as a runaway and they may be returned home. That report is posted nationally so it is valid in every state. 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.


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 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]

Hi I am 20 years old and want to run away from my strict parents. I want to leave New York to go to Louisiana Monroe. My plan is to save up and also get my degree as a dental hygienist. By the time I get my degree I’ll be 22 and might have enough to leave. I want to get all my documents such as my social and my green card. It’s been 10 years since I came here but my parents are not letting get the citizenship however I want to go to Louisiana and then get the citizenship I don’t know if that’s possible. I also want to leave the house early in the morning pretending to go to an interview but leave NY. I told 3-4 of my friends about my plan and they are willing to help. My parents don’t let me do anything they verbally mentally and physically abuse me and I can’t be myself around them nor I’m happy here. My little brother knows about my plan and he is willing to help too. As soon as I go to Louisiana I want to find a job as a dental hygienist but till that I want to have enough money to survive that’s why I’m starting to find a job rn and work 2 years and save up. I’m planning to buy a new phone before I leave NY and change my looks such as dye my hair. I also want to notify the police that I’m leaving by choice and not to look for me. I don’t know if it’s a good plan but I have been thinking about it over the past 3-4 months.

[ccsmod0]

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 are ready to leave your parents’ house and have a great plan to do so. The good news is that since you are over the age of majority (18 years old) you are considered a legal adult which means that you can move out if you want to and you won’t be considered a runaway. As a legal adult, you have a right to make your own decisions about where you live. We can help you make a plan for how to deal with your situation and help you find resources to land on your feet.
Moving is a huge step, and you don’t have to be alone. Some steps you can take towards independence might be to find employment if you don’t have an income, or to save up money for moving expenses. You mentioned that you have a plan to leave home once you have gotten your degree, which is a great plan because it could be difficult to find a job in a new city where you may not know the culture right away.
It is also helpful to research rents in your area, find a roommate, or make a budget. Another thing you might want to consider is what kinds of things you depend on your parents for currently such as tuition expenses for school, or health insurance, and whether they would continue to provide those things after you leave. There may be social service agencies in your area that can help meet some of these needs, such as Transitional Living Programs, a kind of shelter where young adults can live and get services to help them transition to independent living.

Additionally, like we mentioned before, since you are over the age of majority you are technically an adult. This means that if your family hurts you in any way it is no longer child abuse, it is assault, which is an arrestable offence. You always have the right to keep yourself safe. Even if that includes getting the police involved.
Again, thank you for sharing about what is going on. If you think that there is some way that we can assist you further please feel free t give us a call anytime 1-800-786-2929
We are here to listen and help however we can.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 17 from Michigan and the law states that I can legally run away and little can be done to return me home. I would like to know if I can cross state lines and if other states can return me to Michigan as I am not obligated to return home. Do I have to house in Michigan until 18 or can I leave now? I have read that I can enroll myself in school as a homeless and (I forgot the word) minor. If I run away can I emancipate once I establish a job and financial stability as well as a disagreement with my mothers parenting. She consumes weed across state lines and without a Michigan medical card. I can not and will not live with my father since he abused me and abandoned me in an Indiana McDonald's parking lot. Will the fact that a 17 year old in Michigan can't be returned home unless in danger work and hold across state lines? Or will the states laws apply to me even if I'm not a citizen of that state?

[ccsmod2]

Hey there,
Thanks for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We are happy to help you in any way we can.
You mentioned that the Michigan law states that if you run away, little can be done to return you home. We are not legal experts, but our understanding is that, as you said, running away is not illegal, it is just considered a status offense, or something that you can’t do because of your age. If you leave home and your legal guardians file a runaway report, our understanding is that runaway cases are handled differently from police department to police department. It sounds like you may have figured out how your local police department handles these cases, but we also offer a service here where we call out to police stations anonymously and ask any questions a youth might have. If you are interested in that service, you can call in here at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) and we are happy to take it from there.
You asked whether you have to remain in Michigan until you are 18. Once again, we are not legal experts, but our general understanding is that if police decide to report you as a runaway to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC, website missingkids.com), your information will be entered into a national database. Given this, you may appear in other states as a runaway. This does not happen with every case, but a call to your local police department may clarify whether they do usually enter their runaways into this database.
You mentioned that you can enroll yourself in school even if you are experiencing homelessness. That is great that you are taking your education into consideration. The National Center for Homeless Educational Helpline is 1-800-308-2145. You can use this resource if you do not have a permanent living situation and/or as a runaway to ensure you receive the education that you have a right to.
You said that you will not live with your father since he abused and abandoned you. No child deserves abuse of any form. If you are ever interested in reporting this abuse, Child Help is the National Child Abuse Hotline; their website is childhelp.org and their phone number is 1-800-422-4453. This can be a difficult call to make, and if you would like, you can call into us here at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) first, and we are happy to make that call out with you so that you have a line of support.
If you have any other questions or want to explore anything further, feel free to give us a call here at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We are a 24/7, completely confidential, toll-free helpline. Here to listen, here to help.
Best of luck,
NRS