What are the consequences of a 15 year old running away

[Guest]

Im 13 and me and my friend wanna run away but we don't know what the cops will do or what are parant's would do but we have planned this for awhile we just don't know what to do.

[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.
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]

I'm 16 and I want to run away from home and stay with a 20 year old friend that can take good care of me.. I'm pregnant because my father raped me and my mom doesn't care.. what will happen if I run away from home?please help

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today.

Sounds like you are in a really unfair situation and have been through more than anyone should have to go through. You so deserve to live in an environment free from violence where you and your future child can thrive.

Generally speaking, if you have home at 16 without your guardian's permission you can be reported as a runaway with local police. If you are found you could be returned home. If police do get involved, you can let them know what is going on at home and why you had to leave. It is up to the individual officer's response, but they generally should get child protective services (CPS) involved at that time rather than returning you home.

You do have the right to go to police or CPS if you are interested in reporting your father. To learn more about your options or for assistance calling out to these places please call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. If you would just like to talk before making the decision to call authorities you can also always chat us at www.1800runaway.org. Please know that we are always here for you, and you are not alone. Other agencies that might be able to help you include:

Child Help: 1-800-422-4453 experts on CPS

or

RAINN: www.rainn.org or 1-800-656-4673 experts and counselors on sexual violence


We hope this information is helpful, please reach out so we can best help. Be safe out there,

-NRS

[Guest]

I'm a 15 yo (f) and I'm at the point where id rather die than be in my house my mother recently cheated on my stepfather who is abusive to me physically mentally and sexually. But nobody believes me he was in prison for 26 years and for 10 it was solitary confinement. He scares the living hell out of me. I don't wanna be in this house anymore but I have nowhere to stay and I mean I love my mom I'm just scared. I don't have any idea what to do anymore. And in Texas it's illegal to run away from home.

[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 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. 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. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
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

[Guest]

Hey, i’m 15 years old and i’m thinking of running away, after i get like a place to stay or something. My family acts like they care but they truly don’t they don’t even talk to me and when they do they are constantly yelling at me. they don’t even realize that i’m not happy and even when they sent me to a therapist they wouldn’t believe anything that the person said. my step dad won’t even talk to me and my mom pretends to care for me. i don’t truly know what to do but like i’m so close to ending it.

[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.
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]

Im 17 an i cant stand my family i get put down i get hurt mentally an just thought about suicide many of times an i cant stand it here but i thought about running away multiple times an i think i have a place to live not mine but anlt a friends house but i just cant stand it here anymore.

[ccsmod15]

It sounds like you are dealing with a mentally stressful situation at home, but we are glad you are reaching out.
You said you think about suicide. Your life has value and we want you to live and be safe. If you feel these thoughts coming back, please call us or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
You also said you get hurt mentally. If you feel you are being abused, we just want to say abuse is never okay and you deserve to be safe. You may consider filing an abuse report with Child Help by calling 1-800-422-4453 or going to childhelp.org. Having an abuse report would help you if you choose to leave home before 18.
If you choose to leave home and live with your friend, there are a few things you may want to consider. If you are living with a friend, you might want to talk to your friend’s parents about what they expect of you, such as chores, etc. We are not legal experts, but we can also talk to you about legal concerns of running away. Typically, running away is a “status offense,” not a crime, so you would be taken back to your home if the police were to pick you up before you were 18.
We can help you make a plan to be safe if you want to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat online at 1800runaway.org. We can also just listen if you need someone to talk to. We are here 24/7 and we’re here to help.

[Guest]

hi i wanna runaway so bad because living with my mom is making me want to kill myself but the problem is that I dont have no where else to go and she also put her hands on me multiple times and yells at me and im tired of it.

[ccsmod15]

Hello there, thanks for reaching out! It shows a lot of strength to ask for help, especially with so much going on for you and at home. You mentioned thinking of killing yourself due to how your mom treats you. That is really serious and we are concerned for you! If you need some support, you can call or live chat with us at 1-800-786-2929 or through this site. There is also the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, suicidepreventionlifeline.org. They also have 24/7 services over the phone and online live chat, just like us!

You also mentioned there is physical abuse at home. You do not deserve this at all! We are sorry you are struggling with this. You can reach out to Child Help: 1-800-422-4453, childhelp.org. They can give you info on what is considered abuse, next steps if you wanted to report it, how to stay safe, and how to transfer custody to a safer adult.

You said you want to runaway but have no where to go. If you call or chat us, we can look up shelter options in your local area for you and discuss other options of safe places to stay. We are 24/7 on chat and by phone: 1-800-786-2929. You can also Text SAFE and your location to 44357 or visit nationalsafeplace.org to find the closest safe place to you!

Thanks again for posting! We are here to support you. Best of luck and reach out directly anytime!

[Guest]

Ok I’m 15 and my mom and dad are divorced and my dad tells me I can live with him but my mom want let me she’s always hard on me and stuff and my step dad has anger problems we get into it sum times like it’s got to we’re its got physical but when I go over my dads I feel comfortable like I belong my momma always was hard on me and threatens to take my phone away in send me to juvenile bc I didn’t want to give it to her can she even do that can I go to juvenile for not giving her my phone.

[ccsmod6]

Hello,
We are glad you reached out to us. That sounds like a difficult situation to be in and living in such an unsupportive environment can always be tough. We are not legal experts but we do have a great deal of experience working with runaways. As far as we know, your mom cannot send you to juvenile detention for not giving her your phone. Kids generally get sent to juvenile detention if they break the law. Arguments about your phone with your mom are not considered breaking the law. It also sounds like there is some physical confrontation going on and if you feel you are being abused you can always reach out to your local police department or the National Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453) to file an abuse report.
It sounds like you are considering running away. Something to consider when running away is while you won’t get into any legal trouble it is possible for your dad to. If your mom files a runaway report and the police find you at his house he could be charged with a misdemeanor known as harboring a runaway. The amount the police use this varies from station to station so you could call your local non-emergency police line and ask. If there is anything else you want to discuss feel free to call us at 1-800-786-2929.
Thanks for reaching out,
NRS

[Guest]

How do I see where I wrote

[ccsmod6]

Hi! All posts are moderated and they will appear when we respond to them. This is so we can make sure that this forum is a safe and appropriate environment for the youth we talk to. Rest assured, we are working on your reply right now and will get it to you as soon as possible! Thank you for being patient and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline.

[Guest]

I want to leave. Because i make every one mad i have no one and my family dont care about me please help me

[ccsmod15]

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

[Guest]

HI , I really want to run away, my family is broken . I hate my uncle so much and my mom promise we were going to leave along time ago . he's still herw though and He doesnt even like me anyways he calls me a Manipulative little girl that always trys to mess up his and my moms relationship and let tellhe is mt incle on my dads side and they are like dating . He suffers from bipolar diesease and doesn't take his medicine. And when that happens he gets really absuvie and well come out of his house to just throwing things at our house and we have our front door shattered it was glass and our windows in thw dining room and we had a door and he tried to cut through it and i keep telling my mom i wanna move but she doesnt listen if u run away i dont have a safe place to stay because alll mt family members live in texas and canada, what I do ?

[ccsmod15]

Hi, thanks for reaching out. Sounds like things are really stressful living near your uncle, especially when he becomes abusive. You do not deserve any type of abuse. You deserve to feel safe at home! For more information on abuse, getting custody transferred, or reporting the abuse (only if you want to) you can contact Child Help 1-800-422-4453, childhelp.org.

As far as running away, if you wanted to talk more about your options and what could happen with running away, we are 24/7 so call at 1-800-786-2929 or live chat at the top of this page and can help you brainstorm a plan. We can also provide resources for shelter and to keep you safe. You can also look at nationalsafeplace.org to find a safe place near you.

Thanks for reaching out! It shows a lot of strength! Call or chat anytime! 1-800-786-2929

[Guest]

Hi I'm 14, and I want to run away. I live in Texas but I'm scared I'll go to jail is that possible, I have good hopes in life but I just can't stay with my family no more . It better then me dead right?

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It sounds like there is some tension at home between you and your family - that must be really hard. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your parents (or guardians) can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned to your parents/guardians.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 15 and I can't deal with my family anymore I have a plan to runaway but I'm not fully sure if I want to my parents and grandparents treat me horribly what should I do

[ccsmod15]

Hi there and thanks for posting to our forum. Sounds like things are really stressful with your parents and grandparents and it has taken quite a toll on you. We are glad you reached out. Running away is a big decision!

We are not legal experts, but the legal age of adulthood in most states is 18. To leave before then, you generally need parental permission or to become emancipated. Without permission, if you leave home while under 18, your parents/guarduians could file a runaway report with police. It is not a crime to runaway, but you cannot do it due to your age. It's called a status offense. If the police locate you, they generally return you back home. While it is not illegal for you to runaway, any adult you stay with could be charged with the misdemeanor of harboring a runaway.

You mentioned feeling unsure about your plan to runaway. We are here 24/7 and can best help directly so chat through the link at the top of this site or call us anytime at 1-800-786-2929.

We are here to listen and here to help!

-NRS

[Guest]

I'm 16 and my dad said if I don't get a form signed he reporting me as runaway which isn't fair he keep threatening me to leave when i was there and he knew I was moving out and I been living with my bf for a month. He knows where I live and that I'm safe. What should I do?I can't go back..

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now.
We are not legal experts but we do have some general information on the laws. If you are a minor your legal guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. If the police found you they most likely would bring you back home. One option you could consider is to call your local non-emergency police department and see how they would handle the situation. Another option you could consider is to file for emancipation. To find out more about the emancipation process you can call your local court house and ask them how the process works. You can also call us and ask for legal aid resources.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. Please give us a call if you have any more questions or would like to explore your options further. We wish you the best of luck in your situation!
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I just turned 16 and I'm in Arkansas, I want to run away to a different state with a non-related person, will they be arrested if the police find me?

[ccsmod10]

Thank you for reaching out to us with your question, hopefully we can help. We’re not legal experts here at NRS. Generally it’s not illegal to leave home, but your parents could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home. The people you’re staying with could potentially get in trouble for having you stay there if your parents did not give you permission. If you are in a different state its rare but sometimes the police will hold a youth in juvenile detention for 24 or 48 hours, just until the legal guardian can pick up the youth. You could consider calling your local nonemergency police department to ask about their policies. We also have legal aid resources here if you have specific questions about the laws in your state.

We would love to talk more about the details of your situation so that we can work towards a solution you find acceptable. If you would like to share more, please feel free to call our 24 hour hotline at 1-800Runaway (786-2929) or use our live chat. We hope this information was helpful and take care.

[Guest]

Hey I’m 15 and I hate the place I live my parents always yell at me and I didn’t even do anything if my sister gets mad it’s my fault if my room isn’t always clean they yell at me over and over and this time it wasn’t clean because I’ve been busy but they took my door off of my room I don’t like it here I hate it I can’t even talk to them about anything I try and they yell at me for it I just want to run away and never come back! I hate it when my mom judges me for things I wear how I do my hair she’s called me ugly and I can’t handle it anymore it’s like now that my older brother is gone they want me to do everything and I can’t not by myself I try and do what they ask but they say that’s one hell of a job and makes me do it again and it was my full effort on it! I want to run away but i don’t have money or anywhere to go should I leave my phone here my ID all of it

[ccsmod6]

We’re glad that you reached out to us. It seems like you’re really frustrated with your family which is totally understandable. To answer your question, there are a few possibilities for what could happen if you run away at 15. As your legal guardians, your parents have the right to file a runaway report with the police. If they file the report, any police officer who you came into contact with would be obligated to return you to your guardians. One option to consider is asking your parents if you could stay with a friend or family member for awhile. If you have a guardian’s consent, you are allowed to stay somewhere else as long as it is safe. In that case, your parents would still be your guardians but you could live with someone else to get a break from your parents. You’ve been dealing with a really stressful home situation so it’s important that you take care of yourself. That looks different for everyone, but if you have any friends you can talk to about your home situation it might be helpful. We are also here to talk at 1-800-RUNAWAY or over our online chat. We are here 24/7 and can listen to you, answer questions, or help you talk through more options.