running away to another state

[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

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

[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

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 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

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.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are glad that you are reaching out for help—that takes a lot of bravery. It sounds like you are going through an extremely difficult time right with life at home and your mom. We are sorry to hear that home isn’t a place where you feel supported and loved unconditionally.

While we are not legal experts here at NRS, we can offer some suggestions to consider. Since you are 15 years old not legally considered an adult (age of 18 is considered a adult in state of Arizona), if mom has full custody of you and you leave without her permission, she may be able to reach out to local law enforcement and file a missing child report where you name, date of birth, and other basic information goes into a national database and they may attempt to contact your dad in Colorado. If dad doesn’t have full guardianship of you and keeps you at his house for more than 24 hours (the exact time varies per state), then he may be charged with something called “harboring a runaway.” This is a fancy legal term for kidnapping. Although he is your dad, this is the current law in terms of youth that runs away without guardian's (i.e. your mom) approval.

Another option to consider is looking into emancipation laws in your state. Emancipation is a law where a minor (meaning someone under the age of 18 years old) can be considered an adult if he or she is able to prove that they can financially support themselves, are legally married, or are active in the military. We are not experts in this legal area, but often the process may take a few months and you will need to go before a judge to explain your case. A resource that may be helpful in answering questions related to this is the National Center for Youth Law Agency at (510) 835-8098 (www.youthlaw.org/).

While we do not blame you for wanting to remove yourself from the situation, an idea is to consider if there is anything that you can change right now to reduce time spent at home. Perhaps, join an afterschool program or sports team to reduce the number of hours you must be home or find an activity or even job that could give you more freedom and less time spent at home. Many towns and cities have organizations such as a “Boys & Girls’ Club” (www.bcga.org or (404) 487-5700 or YMCA ((732) 290-9040) which is a place where you can meet people your age afterschool, enjoy your time, but remain away from home until later in the evening. This may allow you to meet new people in a way that seems “normal” to your mom who may not understand that a “stranger” in the online world is a way to meet people, as well. In other words, you can obtain freedom by doing it in such a way that mom doesn’t feel entirely threatened.

We’re sure you have already thought all this out, but if you do decide to leave, perhaps tell a trusted friend or relative of where you intend to go and please be cautious and place your safety as utmost priority (if you ever feel unsafe, you can text the word “safe” to 4HELP (44357) to receive a message of the closet Safe Place to go.

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

How can i leave arizona where my stepdad and mom live and go to my dad and stepmom without hurting my dad or stepmom. I've wanted to remove back to colorado buy haven't because of my mom manipulating me im 15 yrs old and can't handle it.

[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 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 already know some information about runaway laws, but it can't hurt to have a little more.
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. Traveling at your age could be dangerous, and you would likely be reported by concerned adults. In many cases, you have to have an adult with you to travel long distances on buses, trains, and airplanes.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
You mentioned being harmed by your step-father. 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 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.
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
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

Hi, I’m 13 Years Old, and I live in Chicago. I hate my life, I hate my family, I hate everything.

Every single person in my family hates me just because I’m very smart & have autism, I have been severely bullied about this at school, to the point when I was 11 where I threatened the Principal To have the school Shut down if they Didn’t do anything about my bullies and threatened to hurt some people (Included Students, Faculty, Etc.), I was given a 2 1/2 month suspension for threatening Assault on others, and after my suspension I was given After-School detention for 2 Weeks.

I Have Mental Health Issues, ADHD, PTSD, And Autism

My Biological Dad Left Me, My Mom, And My Sister After She Was Born In 2011, My Mom Remarried In 2017, My Stepfather And I, Have An Extremely Toxic Relationship, When He first moved in 2 Months after marrying my mom, he Immediately Said My Room Was Now His, And Told Me I Was Moving Into The Basement, I Told Him I did not agree to it, he then proceeded to push me to the ground, and then threatened to beat me with A Belt, and force me to sleep outside for the night, Then Before Driving off to get the family dinner, he told Me I Had 50 hours to Get everything Out of my room, and that anything that was left behind was now “his”. When I Was 10, I Called The Cops To Report My Stepfather to the police, however the cops didn’t Believe me, and threaten to send me To juvie if they got another fake call to the address again, after the cops left, my Stepfather beat me A’lot, to the point in the aftermath of it, I was so weak, that I couldn’t even move for the rest of night. I was so bloodied, and bruised, that I thought I was gonna die. The next morning I was woken up really early, and I was forced to wear makeup until my Wounds Healed.

My 1st time running away, is when I ran away with a group of 7 friends last may, before the last week of school, we were planning to go to a friends parent’s Cabin about a half hour near Lake Michigan In Wisconsin And Spend The Summer There, One of the friends in the group brought her older Twin Siblings with (Both M & F 1 They took their parents SUV Without their consent, and that was Our way of transportation to the cabin, after about 2 1/2 Weeks there, the Cops found out where we were, and we were all arrested & detained. me & my 4 friends were sent back home, while The other 2 Were Charged As Adults with Grand Theft Auto, Criminal Trespassing, And Harassment. They Were Both given 24 Months Prison Time, But Are Expected To Be Released In About a Week Or 2 (Because Both Are Eligible For Parole), As for me & my 4 Friends we were All Given 8 Months Juvenile Probation. As punishment I have all my electronics taken away from me & I had to earn my parent’s trust to get them back, and had my 12th birthday Cancelled.

I’m now 13, and I Started to plan my runaway to California, My expected time to leave is next year after my 14th birthday, I have told my group of friend’s about this (The Same Group Of Friend’s BTW) they have offered to come with me, but I have said I’m doing this on my own, However, there’s A lot of problems about this.

- I’m Extremely Low On Cash (I Have $45.37) & Need to figure out out how to make some cash to keep me on my Feet in California
- I Have No Method Of Transportation to get to California
- I Have No Family / Friends To turn to in California
- I Have No Where to go to in California, I have emailed every youth shelter in Los Angeles & San Jose, But I have yet to hear a word from any of those shelters.
- I Have also considered Leaving everything behind, and starting a New Life In Mexico or Canada. but I cannot get access to my passport, because it’s in a safe in my mom’s Home Office, that only she has the access code to.

At this point, I don’t know what to do, I could really use Some advice.

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. That sounds like an extremely stressful situation with your mother and you do not deserve the way she has been treating you. One option is to report the physical abuse and threat to kill you to Child Protective services, the number for Vegas is 702-399-0081. It sounds like you have been building a plan which is always helpful before leaving so you know you will be safe. You mentioned that you don’t talk to the family members in California, but would you have a way to contact them to see if they could house you? You absolutely deserve to be free and not in an abusive situation. Also you mentioned you turn 18 in about 2 months, is it possible for you to wait until then when legally you can go wherever you want or what do you think your mom would do if you left with being so close to 18? If you feel you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you would like to discuss this further or talk about other options that might help you get to a safer place, 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

Hello, I am 17 Years old I will be 18 in october. I currently live in las vegas and want to leave for California. my mother is not the best to me she makes me feel like I'm nothing. she tells me that she will kill me with no remorse, she doesn't care for my feelings, she's the only one that cares for me and that she is my only mother. she says everything I do for attention. she likes to read through me notebooks then gets mad and downgrades me say I'm dumb lazy when I do everything. she never cleans. I told her all she does is make me clean like I'm her maid and she punched me in the mouth. I'm totally done with this kind of treatment. I already have my plan put together. I have a $50 bus ticket I have two family members that live in different cities but we don't talk. I have an aunt who lives out in Cali also but she has a lot going on in her life right now and I don't want to be a bother of anything. I just want to feel free and not feel like I'm in an abusive relationship. If I don't make it to Cali or at least away from her I'm going to kill myself. How should I go about it?

[ccsmod15]

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes a lot of bravery to reach out for help.

We’re sorry to hear that you live in a home you feel the need to run away from. Running away is a big decision as you could be found by police and returned home. So, it can be important to consider if you can make your home feel more safe by talking to those you live with or building a support system in your area. It is also smart of you to try to make a plan. While money and transportation are important considerations to make when thinking about running away, so is what you are going to bring with you and where you are going to go. It can be helpful to bring important documents, and you could reach out to friends and family members about staying with them. These same individuals may be able to help support you financially until you are able to do so yourself and offer you transportation to their homes. One way you could work towards financially supporting yourself would be finding a job if you are old enough. If you would like to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us at our website, we could help you find some shelters and transitional living programs, which help you prepare to live on your own, to stay in in your area and talk through more options you may find helpful. Some shelters may offer transportation to them as well.

Thank you again for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. Feel free to reach out anytime as we are available 24/7 and are completely confidential. Best of luck!

I want to run away to another state but i have no money or transportation

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out; we are glad that you did. It sounds like it wasn't safe for you at home and that you have run because of that.

No one but police would know that you have run away based on your name, so your ID wouldn't be "flagged" at a bus station. In Michigan, running away is not a crime, it's a status offence: meaning, it's a think you can't do based on your status as a minor.
We hope that you will contact our live services so we can talk about this with you. You can chat us through this website or call our hotline at 1-800786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY)
We hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS