16 in nevada

[Guest]

i cant stay in my house. im terrified of my dad. does anyone know any laws about running away in nevada? what can the police do to me? etc. thanks :]

[ccsmod1]

Re: 16 in nevada

Thanks for writing on our bulletin boards. It sounds like something’s going on at home that makes you scared of your dad. What’s going on? Who else lives with you and your dad? Home should be a place where you feel safe and are safe, so it’s understandable that you don’t want to be there anymore if you’re terrified of your dad. From the little you wrote, it sounds like you’re thinking about running away. Do you feel this is your only option? Have you tried anything else to make home a safe and happy environment for you? What would have to change in order for you to be comfortable staying there? We’re definitely glad that you found our website and felt comfortable enough posting to us.

As far as running away is concerned, if you’re a minor, your parents/legal guardians have the right to file a runaway report with the police. This report gets put into their national database. Depending on the police department and area you’re from, that may be the extent of what the police do as far as trying to locate you goes. Some police departments though will search for you by talking to friends, family, school or tracking records (phone, ATM cards, computer, etc). Generally, when a runaway youth is found they are returned home. Sometimes the youth may be held in juvenile detention or a shelter until their parents can come and pick them up. If the youth is found out of state, they will many times be held in the juvenile detention until the parents can arrange transportation home. Now, if there’s any abuse or neglect in the home, if a youth were to tell a police officer or shelter work about this, they may contact Child Protective Services instead of the parents right away. CPS would then do an investigation and determine if home was safe or not. Running away is generally not considered illegal, it is a status offense, meaning you’re not allowed to do it because you’re underage. The only exception to this would be if the runaway youth were already in legal trouble, then there may be more stringent consequences for leaving.

Running away is a big decision, so we’re glad that you’re really thinking about it. Do you know where you’d go if you left? How would you survive? Meaning, how would you get food, clothes, etc? What about school? Do you think you’d be safe if you ran away? These are all important things to think about before making the decision to runaway. Ask yourself if your plans are realistic too. One other thing to note is that although running isn’t illegal in most areas, harboring a runaway is. This means that any adult that knowingly lets a runaway youth stay with them and doesn’t contact the police, the youth’s legal guardians or CPS, they could get in trouble for harboring a runaway.

We’d be more than happy to talk to you about any of this more in depth. We’re a completely confidential hotline, so you wouldn’t have to worry about us telling anyone you called or what we talked about. If there are any resources you’d like, such as shelters in the area, counseling, abuse reporting numbers, let us know. If you do decide to leave, our number is free from any payphone. Someone is available anytime day or night, so give us a call sometime. Remember, we’re here to support you and help you in anyway we can!

[makennaannlouise]

want to run away

I want to run away with my puppy because I hate my parents and I never want to see them again and im scared of my dad. what should I do???

[ccsmod5]

re: want to run away

Hey there,

Thank you for being able to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline, it seems like you are going through a really tough time at this point in your life and we are glad that you are able to confide in us.

From what you shared, it seems like the best option would be to speak to your parents about the situation. Here at NRS, we have a conference calling service where we would be able to mediate a call between yourself and your parents. Our conference calls can be productive, we do not take sides but we rather help explore the options and see what could make the situation better at home.

You mentioned running away, there are some things you might want to consider before you decide to make a decision like this. We are not here to tell you what to do, but rather make sure you are in a safe situation. Here are some things you might want to consider:

What else can I do to improve my home situation before I leave?
What would make me stay at home?
How will I survive?
Is running away safe?
Who can I count on to help me?
Am I being realistic?
Have I given this enough thought?
What are my other options?
If I end up in trouble, who will I call?
When I return home, what will happen?

We also will be more than happy to help you through this tough time. Please feel free to give us a call or reach out to us through our chat service system. We wish you the best of luck in whatever it is you decide to do.

Stay strong,

NRS

[Christian]

16 and Confused

Hi there,

I feel as if I'm in the same situation that many are facing. I'm 16 years old, live in Colorado, and have had a decent past. Just recently (past three months), my parents have mistreated me (no physical abuse), verbally abused me, and overall treated me like I'm worthless. I find myself doing little to nothing at all to set my parents off. It's typically something small, such as me misplacing something in the house, or even forgetting to take the trash out. They get furious. Lately, these little things have gotten bigger such as me denying our traditional religion (Christianity). My dad completely flew off the handle. They have revoked all of my privileges, taken away anything of value to me, and are starting to rip my life apart.

My dad threatens to kick me out of the house all the time. He said if I didn't follow his rules then I might as well pack my bags and get out. Same thing with following his religion. I honestly think he's crazy. My mom blows up and screams at me and my siblings. I can't say anything to her because that'll just result in me getting kicked out of the house too. I have a few places to go, friends that'll let me stay with them if my parents do end up kicking me out. I'm thinking about leaving though, before any of that happens. My parents know that I'm on edge and basically done with everything they have to say or do to me. I have a couple of questions though before I do end up leaving... (this weekend might be the time I leave);

1) If I do end up leaving, will I be forced to return (by police force) even if I don't feel comfortable / safe living with my parents?

2)Will the families' of my friends get in trouble legally if I stay with them while planning/executing the emancipation process?

I honestly don't want to live with my parents anymore... I'm speaking from the desperation and sadness. I don't want to live with this anymore, especially for the next two years. I feel like this is the only way I can possibly move on and live happily. Maybe things might change if I leave, but I'm not for sure.. That's why I've been holding back at the idea of leaving. Also, I've talked with my school counselor and a couple of teachers.. They helped for a while, but it's gotten out of hand. Thanks to my parents and the way the approach situations and end up handling them, and their religious beliefs too, I've been driven to a point of constant unhappiness.

Any help / advice would be nice. I'd highly appreciate it.

Thanks.

[ccsmod5]

re: 16 & confused

Hey there,


Often, youth may reach out to NRS in several different ways to discuss their situation. If a response from NRS is not visible to a bulletin posting it may be that we have already provided services to that individual through another platform we provide such as email, our crisis hotline, or our live chat service (in operation every day from 4:30p to 11:30p CST). NRS encourages anyone in need of assistance to contact us through our 24 hour crisis hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY to receive immediate support.

We wish you the best of luck in whatever it is you decide to do.

NRS

[Unregistered]

I just ran away

I am in a very safe place and i have a job and a car and my friends parents are allowing me to stay here for as long as i need and they will buy me things like clothes, food, glasses, everything i need. My dad never bought me anything. But anyways he does not know who any of my friends are, he thinks i have 2 bestfriends but i never see those people. It is summer and neither of us are enrolled in that school anymore. What are my rights?

[ccsmod2]

re: I just ran away

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us. From what you shared, you have ran away from home and your friends parents are supporting you. You seem to not have much support at home from your dad. In general, we aren't legal experts here, so we can't say what your legal rights are. As a minor, there are a lot of things that you need your parents in order to do and that could be difficult if you aren't living with them. We recommend calling out to a local legal aid agency for specific information.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 16 and i do love my parents but i need a break from the attitude i recieve. Am i allowed yo go spend the night at a friends house if his parents know what is going on and are willing to take me in? I dont want her to call the police if i walk out.

[ccsmod3]

Hello and thanks for reaching out on our forum. It sounds like you are looking for a short break from home and are trying to figure out a way to spend the night at a friend’s house without police involvement. We are sorry to hear you are dealing with attitude from your parents and are concerned your mom will call the police if you walk out. Running away is often defined as leaving home without the permission of a parent/guardian. However, sometimes police will tell a parent/guardian to wait a certain amount of time before taking a runaway or missing juvenile report. Sometimes police do take the report right away at the parent/guardian’s insistence so if this is a concern, you might consider trying to get permission or at least have your friend’s parents notify your parents.

Please know we are not here to judge you and share this as general information and not to prevent you from a decision one way or the other. We’d be happy to talk to you more about the situation and encourage you to reach out directly either by Live Chatting later today or by calling our crisis line at 1-800-RUNAWAY. Best of luck!

[Guest]

I have a grand daughter that has run away... I am seeking help for her.... she is still on the run but... afraid to do home in fear that her mom will continue to tazed her and cut her hair off for wrong doings in the past.... she struggles in school and has bad grades.... and has become truent.... van some on please help this family.... this child so we can have the take steps in the right direction.... her mother has witnessed the murder of her husband..... and had to fight for her life and to protect 3 other children..... please contact me so we can help this run away and her family

[ccsmod0]

Thank you so much for reaching out to share what is going on. We are sorry to hear that your family is going through this difficult time. It must have been extremely traumatic for her mother to witness her husband’s murder.
If you or a friend are in contact with your granddaughter, you can always suggest that she reach out to us. We are confidential and can help explore options for what to do or where to go next. We can look up services like shelters, counseling services and other support resources.
Have you thought about contacting your granddaughter’s school to discuss how to handle the truancy? A counselor be may also be able to suggest options for helping her with grades. In addition, if there is abuse going on, such as tazing, this can also be reported to child protective services so that they can offer options.
If you, your granddaughter or her mother would like to contact us via online chat or by calling, we are here 24 X 7 to listen and provide help. Please contact us at 1-800-786-2929.

[Guest]

my child is 17 and will be 18 in 10 weeks. She decided to runaway today besides the law she has to stay with us what laws are the people taking her in breaking? I feel if the parents knew that they were going to get in some sort of trouble they would stop interfering with our parenting and bring her home

[ccsmod10]

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are here to listen and help as best as we can. It sounds like you are going through a really tough time not having your youth home and being unsure of their safety. She is lucky to have someone that cares so much about them.

One of the first options that can be important to explore is contacting your local law enforcement to file a runaway report. We are not legal experts here, but typically it is not illegal to run away or leave home without permission. However, if a runaway report is filed, police that encounter a runaway youth will work to return them home when found. You mentioned that she’s staying with adults. The act of running away isn’t against the law, however, harboring a runaway is an arrest-able offense. Keep in mind though, that the efforts made to search for runaway youth can vary from state to state or even within districts. Often it is up to the parents to advocate for themselves and keep track of the steps taken to find your youth.

Unfortunately we do not have a service that assists with locating youth, but there are agencies that offer to help in this way. During a time like this, it can be important to remember your own self-care. Taking care of yourself and feeling heard can make an overwhelming situation more manageable. There’s an organization that is staffed by parents who have been through situations like yours, it’s called Team HOPE (Help Offering Parents Empowerment). The phone number is (866) 305-4673 and the website is www.childhelp.org. You can always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY to talk or find additional resources.

[Guest]

I am terrified of my dad, and I want to run away with my sister. I want to run away to one of my friend's house because he doesn't know where she lives. I don't want to get her in any kind of trouble with the police though. I don't know what to do. I need runaway laws for Nevada.

[ccsmod15]

Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are here to help as best as we can. It sounds as though you are in a situation where you do not feel safe. You should definitely feel safe where you’re living and it sounds like you’re taking steps to make that happen.
As far as whether or not your friend will get in trouble if you stay with her, we are not legal experts so cannot say what exactly would happen if you go stay at her house. We do know your dad could file a runaway report if you are under 18 and your friend could be charged with harboring a minor if she was found to be keeping you from your dad, but again we aren’t sure if that would happen in your particular situation.
The best way to find out what exactly would happen if you did run away from home would be to call your local police department and ask. We know it can be scary to call the police so if you are interested you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) and we can help you call them.
As well you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) 24/7 toll free or utilize our chat services through our website and we can provide you with assistance to find other resources that could help you out in your situation.
You are doing a great job taking the first steps to get yourself in a situation you feel safe in. Feel free to give us a call or utilize our chat services if you need help. We are here to listen to you and help as best we can.

~NRS

[Guest]

I am 17 and will be 18 in a few short months and already graduated high school. I feel like leaving home due to the treatment I've received. When it comes to the finances in the house I am treated as an adult (I have a job), however when it comes to privileges my younger siblings (15 and 13) have the equivalent amount of privileges I do. I am also constantly put down and also told "If you don't like it leave." I've attempted on multiple occassions to voice my opinion, but all I get it "I'm the adult. Stop giving attitude/talking back." They punish me for every little mistake I do, such as not helping clean, making a face when I disagree, etc. Punishments include an excessive amount of weeks not allowed out the house and sleeping on the floor. I am scared of my parents because every once in a while I do receive physical punishment. Their punishments have not allowed me to finish my application steps for college so now I must wait for the next semester. However, with these punishments it seems I'll never get in. I want to move in with my boyfriend and his family. They have agreed and his parents will allow me more liberty so I may pursue my career and have some time outside the house for once.

Am I doing the right thing if I go through with it?

[ccsmod3]

Hello there,

Thank you for sharing your situation on our forum. Congratulations on already having graduated high school at 17. It sounds like you’re trying to figure out whether leaving home a few months before turning 18 is the right decision for you. While we are non-directive here, we can discuss pros and cons of leaving home before 18. We are also here to listen and provide support to the best of our ability.

You mentioned you receive physical punishment every once in a while which scares you. We hope you realize you do not deserve to be treated in a way that scares you or could be considered abusive. You have a right to report abuse or neglect and we are here to help you should you decide to go that route. There is also Child Help, https://www.childhelp.org/.
It unfortunately sounds like your parent are sending you mixed messages. On one hand they seem to be treating you like an adult and on the other equal to your younger siblings. This sounds a bit confusing and it’s understandable you would be trying to figure out a plan to live outside of our home. Your boyfriend and his family sound very supportive and moving in with them seems to be the option you are most considering at this time.

We are not here to judge you, your boyfriend, or his family. A few things you all might consider are whether or not you think your parents might try to get your boyfriend (if he is 18+) and/or his family in trouble. While running away is most often considered a status offense (having to do with being underage), harboring a runaway can be considered a crime. Many young adults still need their parents to be involved with their college/FAFSA applications, although it sounds like you’ve already looked into that process.
We’ll be here to continue talking to you about your situation. Hopefully by offering a listening ear and support we can help you decide for yourself whether or not you believe you are doing the right thing if you go through with moving in with your boyfriend and his family. Hopefully this helps and best of luck!

- NRS

[Guest]

Hello, I'm turning 16 in a 3 days and I have many struggles at home. My mother is a Japanese lady about 5ft tall and I'm 5ft 9 so she uses my height as a defense and says that I bully her and overpower her. CPS has been called twice on my mother by my school counselor and by me and they did nothing the first time was around May of Last year (my freshman year), I had been beaten with a broom and she had broken the skin on my ankle (left a large scar) and I had multiple large bruises, CPS came to the house to talk to my mom and I and also took pictures of my bruises and the cut on my ankle, after a month or two later we received a letter in the mail that said the case had been closed... Great, my cry for help has been ignored.
The second time was in May of this year (sophomore year) and I had filled for emotional trauma because I've been going through mental and physical abuse for so long, maybe since 3rd or 4th grade and I am honestly beyond fed up with her atrocious personality so I filled a report and sent in all the recordings I had taken of her degrading me and threatening me. CPS came to talk to e at school about 2 weeks later (late May) and said she would talk to my mother and blah blah. Summer is just about over and CPS showed up at the door today and talked to my mother, the lady I talked to before summer asked her questions and my mother had lied to a good handful of them, I kept my mouth shut so It wouldn't start other crap with my mom later, so now I'm waiting to see, maybe they'll close my case, again, and ignore me. Once Again. After the lady had left my mother said "That ********ing **********, I can do whatever I want, black people cuss more than me that stupid **********." (The African american lady had talked to her about cussing because my mother has an absolutely foul mouth, prominent in the recordings). Funny thing is I'm half black...

The woman I live with is an racist, abusive and manipulative mess that I'm ashamed and disgusted to call a "mother" and I dislike, so much to be near her, it makes me sick to my stomach and I'm not so sure how much more I can take, I'm just so close to breaking. I've been suicidal for a while now and I'm not sure why or how I'm still alive but If I don't get out soon I feel like I won't be around much longer... What do I do, I'm stuck, she tells me to get out and get a job but she makes me stay home and watch my sister and never gives me breaks or says anything to thank me. I'm starting my Junior year and I really just can't handle all this crap on top of this soon to be busy year, my grades slipped a lot last year and brought down my GPA because I was constantly in distress and it affected me badly and I need to get my GPA up.

Sorry for the long Message but I'm really at a loss, what are my choices? Can I just get out, since she's been telling me to and CPS hasn't done anything? I might be able to find a place to stay, with a friend or something and get a job so I can pay for my own stuff. Anything would help, thanks.

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hello, I'm turning 16 in a 3 days

Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. 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.
We understand the frustration you must feel from the outcome of the reports that were filed for child abuse. You are doing the right thing by being brave in speaking out. As fearful as it might be giving full details to the social worker may be helpful in bringing the results you are looking for. Your safety is important and it is not your fault that this is happening.

It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. It sounds like you’re fearing that the situation may end in suicide if things don’t change. Your safety and well-being is important. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but you are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this difficult time.
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).
We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS