What are the consequences of a 15 year old running away

[Guest]

Hi so Im 13 and well my place isnt safe and i have called the cops Dss like 6 times on my parents and im still here i was going to live with my boyfriend but then i heard his mom can go to jail for hiding me if my parents make a missing person report and i dont want his mom to go to jail and i want to get the hell out of my house and i dont want to go to foster care... what should i do..?

[ccsmod3]

Thank you for reaching out to us. It seems like you are concerned about what will happen if you runaway. 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. If you are having issues with your parents and feel unsafe you can contact Child Help at 1800-422-4453. If you have specific questions that you felt like were not addressed you could always call us at 1800-RUNAWAY. We are here to help and are 24/7. Best of Luck!

[Guest]

How do you get papers for your parents to sign for you to live at a friends house?

[ccsmod10]

Hello,

It sounds like you are interested in emancipation. 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.

[Guest]

Hi I am 16 and thinking about running away to live with my boyfriend. I live in Ohio and he is in North Carolina. I know it’s very far, but I have a car and I have a job so I have plenty of money saved up if I were to go through with this. I don’t want to speak to my family anymore, it’s not that they’ve done anything wrong to me I just want to leave everything behind and I was wondering what I would need to do to do that, without having to deal with my family in court

[ccsmod3]

Thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you have really thought about this plan and just want more clarification on what will happen if you runaway. 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. If you are having issues with your parents and feel unsafe you can contact Child Help at 1800-422-4453. If you have specific questions that you felt like were not addressed you could always call us at 1800-RUNAWAY. We are here to help and are 24/7. Best of Luck!

[Guest]

Hello I’m fifteen and I want to run away. Know my dad doesn’t care he said if I do. It’s more my mom. If I stayed in a safe place. What would happen?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to NRS. It sounds like you want to leave home, but only one parent will give you permission. You know what is best for you and your situation, and we want to make sure you are safe. If you leave without permission, your mom can file a runaway report. Running away is not illegal and you would not be arrested. If police know where you are, they will most likely return you home.

The easiest way to leave is with your parents' permission. We understand that these conversations can be difficult, and we are here to help. We are able to facilitate a conference call with you and your parents to advocate for you and make sure you feel heard.

We can best be of help by phone and chat. We want to help you figure out your next steps and would need more information about your situation to explore options with you. Please do not hesitate to reach out by phone (1-800-786-2929) or use our online chat services (1800runaway.org).

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm 15 and ready to run away from my mom,I already have a safe place to go but is it ok to run away if my mom makes marks on me and makes threats to me? I can't go to my dad's because of hes abusive to me but now my mom is making it wost i dkbt know any other option unless y'all have suggestions. I NEED HELP PLEASE

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to NRS. It sounds like both of your parents have not been providing safe places for you to stay. Abuse is never okay, and your safety is a priority to us. You deserve to live somewhere you feel supported. Leaving can be a really difficult decision to make, so it is really good that you found a safe place to go to.

If you do leave your mom can file a runaway report. You would not get arrested, but police would likely return you home if they found you. You can tell them why you left and you do not feel safe with your mom or dad. You know your situation best

It is not okay for your mom to hit you and leave marks on you. You have the option to report this as abuse. Making a report would mean that a social worker would come to your house to talk with you and your parents to decide if home is safe for you. This might sound weird, but it can help to take pictures of the marks your mom leaves on you as evidence. If you would like to go this route you can contact the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or go to https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/ for support and more information.

We want to help you figure out your next steps and are available 24/7 to listen and help. Please do not hesitate to reach out by phone (1-800-786-2929) or use our online chat services (1800runaway.org).

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I have been verbally and mentally abused by my mom for the past 15 years I want to run away and stay at my boyfriends house is it illegal if I do because what if he gets arrested but the thing is that I don't feel safe in my home with my mother saying things to me so what should I 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 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]

Imma 14 year old kid from TX, not going to say where..... but i'm planning on running away... ASAP because my parents don want me around and they call me a MISTAKE, so..... yeah im thinking of running away, is there any punishment for doing this?
if so, what would happen?

[ccsmod15]

We are so sorry to hear you're being mistreated by your parents! They don't have the right to call you a mistake. In fact, that could be considered verbal and emotional abuse, which you have the right to report if you want. We can even file an abuse report for you, but that's your decision.

In terms of running away, here are some things to keep in mind: Running away is considered a status offense like breaking curfew. You can't get arrested, but police could detain you and would have to bring you back home. So there's no legal "punishment" for running away, though there are consequences.

Of course, we never tell anyone what to do. But if you did run away you might want to think about things like where you would live, how you would stay safe, how you would go to school, and stuff like that. We'd like to help out further but would need more information from you. The best way for us to do that is if you give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us online by visiting our website: www.1800runaway.org. Please be safe and know that you don't have to face this alone. We hope to hear from you soon.

[Guest]

Im 15 years old and i stay in SC i wanna runaway im so stressed our and pissed off with both parents that don't listen to me ...... is it illegal ? or a charge?

[ccsmod2]

Hello there,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. We are sorry you are going through such a difficult time right now.
We are not legal experts but we do have some general information on the laws. If you were to leave home as a minor your parents do have the right to file a runaway report. If the police do find you they most likely would bring you home. If you would like to talk about what has been going on please give us a call.
We wish you the best of luck! We are here 24/7 to listen and provide you support.
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 13 and I've been wanting to run away idk were to stay I could stay in the woods or with a friend but lately a lot my mom has been yelling and screaming at me for stuff like if someone laid a hand on my like to hit me and I hit them back to get them away she yells at me tells me to go to my room and I just hate it here my brother is 17 and he always is threatening me and hitting me and I have an older brother that's 36 that I want to live with cause I would be going to a way better school but my mom tells me I can't go their and my dad doesn't want me living with him my mom I don't think wants me to cause she doesn't wanna lose child support and my dad doesn't have a reason but whenever I'm at my brothers house it's perfect I'm outside doing stuff I'm not trapped in a room and he has kids and they are good kids he doesn't yell at them or anything but my brother said I could live with him my parents disagree is their anyway I can go to move in with him cause living here every time I go outside I'm scared of getting jumped by a group of kids tha hate me and my brother lives in the country and he has slot of stuff for me to like do that I enjoy doing such as ride dirt bikes and I'm not trapped in the house getting screamed at how am I able to choose to live with him cause I hate it here

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for posting on our forum. Sorry to hear that you are being yelled at and hit at home. That is not right, and you don’t deserve to be treated that way. We’re here to support you.
While we are not legal experts, we can say in general, that legally you need a parent’s permission for where to live. If you choose to leave home without their permission, they would have the option of filing a runaway report. If you were to interact with police, they could bring you back home. Anyone you were staying with could get in trouble for harboring a runaway.
It sounds like you may be facing some bullying. It is wrong for other kids to bully you, and you should feel safe at school and around your home. You may want to talk to someone you trust, like a teacher or counselor, about how your peers are treating you. They may be able to help you make a plan and to support you. They may also be able to provide support for your situation at home.
Thank you again for reaching out. We hope this is helpful, and encourage you to reach out to us by chat or phone to talk more through your situation.

[Guest]

hey, I need help. Lately I've been thinking on leaving my house for good because my dad hurts me and everyday is a stress going to my home from school. I even packed a gym bag full of things in case I want to leave. I had my friend's support for this situation, and he even told me I could stay at his place for a while until everything is settled. But I'm afraid that his family gets in trouble or that I might make situations worser. I also have a younger brother (15 years old) and I don't want to leave him behind. I really need help. The school's computer is my only way to communicate because my dad took everything from me.

[ccsmod8]

Hello there -

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like living at home has you worried for your safety and your younger brother. You do not deserve to be hurt by your father, he is supposed to care for you. Just know that you always have the right to report any abuse (physical, mental, sexual, or neglect/abandonment) to child protective service in your state. You have rights to protect yourself if it does get dangerous for you.

From what you posted, it seems like if you were to run away, you would have a safe place to go. We are not legal experts, however if your father were to file a runaway report, you could be escorted back home and . And your friend could possibly be charged with harboring a runaway. However, it sounds like your situation may contain abuse, in that case you can reach out to the police or your local child protective services. If you reach put to your local child protective services, they will launch into an investigation that may lead to you and your siblings being placed in a safer situation. If you need to vent or are interested in possibly utilizing some of these resources, you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY at any time of the day or night.

We could further discuss your options and even help you to reach out to some of these resources.

[Guest]

hey what do i do my grandma is super abusive and my mom makes fun of me when i cry and i ran away last night she caught me and came too pick me up and i really want to runaway again but idk what to do

[ccsmod13]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out to NRS! Abuse of any kind is never okay and not your fault. Adults in our lives are supposed to be supportive, and it can be really difficult and stressful when that is not the case. It is understandable why you would want to leave. You deserve to be treated in a way that makes you feel supported and taken care of. If you runaway your mom can come pick you up or file a runaway report. If she reports you as a runaway, the police will likely return you home.

We are here 24/7 to listen and help and we want to help you brainstorm your next steps. Please reach out by phone (800-786-2929) or chat with us. We hope to hear from you soon so that we can help.
-NRS

[Guest]

I'm 15. I'm thinking about running away, it's not that I completely want to, it's that I need to. My mother has cancer and ever since they stopped really caring about me and I feel like I've been pushed to the side, for example, they don't buy me things I need, like clothes, feminine products, etc, things that parents should do. I would buy them for myself but they wont allow me get a job. it's neglectful to the point that they won't buy me clothes, like I said, and my pants have started cutting my sides. I know I seem selfish, and Im sorry. My parents make me feel stressed out and they yell at me all the time and they verbally and mentally abuse me. I want to run away very badly, but Im also a little scared of what my parents would do. They come up with outrageous punishments like not letting me see or talk to anyone for months at a time when I did something as little as forgetting to do the dishes. They do a lot of things like that, but there's far too many to name, especially here. If I run away Im not sure where I would go. My parents have pushed me to cutting myself and plotting my own suicide so many times. I just can't do it anymore. I'm so depressed and scared all the time, and I can't do anything. They aren't even my real parents, I just call them that. They only have gaurdianship over me. I'm sorry this is strung out, but I really need some help here. Like I said, I want to run away, but I'm afraid. We're also being evicted soon, and we'll be living in an RV. I cant do it. I need help. If I stay here any longer I'll definitely kill myself, theres no doubt. Like I said I don't have a place to stay. I would stay with my friend, but I don't want to get her and her parents in trouble. I also don't want to go back to Foster Care, which seems like the only other option. I just really need some help in deciding if I should run away. My real mother doesn't want me to, but I really think I will. Sorry that this is strung out..

[ccsmod2]

First of all you never need to apologize to us we are here to listen. It definitely understandable to be stress out right now there is a lot going and it is hard to do it on your own. It is very brave of you to reach out to us and it shows a lot of strength on your part. We are not legal experts but running away is not illegal it is consider a status offense and how every case is handle is different. You mentioned that you have been feeling suicidal lately you can always reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 there is always someone there you can talk to and they are trained to listen. Have you tried reaching out to a school counselor and discuss what is going on they might have some great local resources that you can use. It is great that you have friend that can support you. Have you tried maybe talking to your friends parents and using them as in-between for you and your parents? Another option that you can use is Child Help which is the National Child Abuse Hotline their number is 1-800-422-4453 abuse is not just physical.
Remember you are never alone and you can always reach out to us we are here to listen.
1-800-786-2929 or through live chat.

[Guest]

if i were to run away how should i do it like i need to make some money
i just miss my mom and i hate always being in trouble i feel like im a
burden on my aunt and uncle i just want to ho home

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. We are not here to tell you if you should or should not runaway as you know your situation the best.
We are not legal experts but if you do decide to run away your legal guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. If the police do find you the most likely would bring you back home. You could try and talk with your aunt and uncle about possibly going to stay with your mom.
We hope this information will be useful for you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. Wee here 24/7 to listen and provide you support. Stay strong!
NRS

[Guest]

Im 15 Can i run away to my dad or house even if he is not on my birth certificate

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to ;isten.
We are not legal experts but if you were to leave your home without your legal guardian’s permission they do have the right to file a runaway report. So if your father is not your legal guardian you could be filed as a runaway. If the police do find you they most likely would bring you back home.
We hope this information will be useful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide you support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hey im 14 and my biological mom has just gained custody of me and i dont want to live with her i want to go back to my foster parents but the worst part is she wont even let me have contact with them. Ive googled how far it is walking and it 18 hours away if you ride a bike its 5 if you drive its 1 but im not old enough to drive. Ive already packed my stuff and im ready to walk that 18 hour walk to get away from my mom but before i go i just wanted to make sure nothing would happen to my foster parents by me running back to them. i know its not the smartest idea but im going to go insane without my foster parents ve been with them since i was w

[ccsmod8]

Hello,
Thank you so much for reaching out. We are very sorry to hear you are struggling living with your biological mom. That must be a really difficult adjustment.
Here at NRS, we are not legal experts. However, since your biological mom has custody over you now, she has the right to file a runaway report. Since it’s only considered a statues offense and not a crime to run away, the only thing that would happen is that the police will pick you up and bring you back home. If you do make it to your foster parent’s house and there is a runaway report filed, your biological mom might be able to charge your foster parents with harboring a runaway. Harboring a runaway is when that party are not giving accurate information on a runaway’s whereabouts. That could lead to a number of different legal issues such as misdemeanor charges (fines or jail charges). From what we know it isn’t something that typically happens, but it is in place to detour individuals from helping runaway minors from not returning home or lying on a runaway’s behalf. So, these may all be things to keep in mind when planning on leaving your current situation.
An 18 hour walk or 5 hour bike ride (assuming with stopping and slowing down) sounds like it may be difficult. Having a solid plan about what you are planning on doing it might be a good idea so that you can think about what is reasonably possible for you to do and want isn’t. Factoring in these kinds of thoughts into your overall plan, again can possibly help you in your choice (i.e, how you would stay safe while trying to get back to your foster parents, how your biological mom would react, etc). It's certainly a jump step to make and we want you to be as safe as possible when making your decision.
Here at NRS we offer conference calling between youth and parents. If you needed help communicating with your biological mom about how you are feeling, we could possibly facilitate a conversation between the two of you. It might be a great way to talk about what you are going through and where this feelings might be coming from or to maybe build on your relationship and make it better. Something constructive so that it certainly opens the lines of communication, but that services is completely up to you.
If you need any help brainstorming some other options or need any support give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or live chat us on our website to speak with one of our trained crisis line workers. Our Safeline operates 24/7 and is completely confidential. Again, thank you for contacting us, we wish you the best of luck!
Best wishes,
NRS