What are the consequences of a 15 year old running away

[Guest]

I’m 15 my mother makes me feel like there is no point In living and I’m just so tired of this I won’t take my life away because I know it’s a very selfish thing to do my boyfriend is 18 and has helped me to deal with this a lot I can’t get emancipated because I’m not 16 yet and I don’t have a job much less will my mom let me have one I think the best thing to do is to just run away and live with my boyfriend I really can’t live with her anymore and I have no other family to go to and I don’t want my boyfriend to go to jail or anything what do you think the best plan for me is?

[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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. I know said you would not take your life because it is selfish, but if you do here is a great resource.The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services.

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. Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. 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 challenging 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 and stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

hi i want to run away from my house because my mom and my whole family abused me and still does until this day and hits me i even have pictures of how hits me i want to go with my boyfriend but he is my neighbor which my mom knows but she think we broke up and he looks different and i told my mom he lives somewhere else i want to go with his family in texas in car i just dont know what will happen can you guys give me an email of what to do and i live in chicago Illinois.

[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 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. 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.
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]

hii i wrote about this but i dont get any advice i want to run away but my uncles threaten me that if i run away they are gonna send me to mexico and since im illegal they say the cops could fine me fast but i want to run away with my boyfriends family . and if i run away at 15 will i have any consequences ? and how will the authorities react what will they do ?

[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 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

[Guest]

if i run away at 15 but i was born in mexico can the authorities find me faster ?

[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 legal experts but we do have some information on what could happen.
If you were to leave without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you home. We are unsure if it matters if you were born in Mexico or not.
If you would like to discuss your situation more or have any more questions, please reach out to us by calling or through our chat platform. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hi , I’m 14 and I’m going to run away pretty soon . I have a lot going on and I’ve tried to commit suicide 3 times because of it . I have bounced from house to house my whole life and I don’t do well with structure and discipline . Recently I got my phone and my door taken for selling my nudes and I decided I can’t take it anymore . But I have siblings and I was told that if I runaway they’ll take my siblings from my mom and we’ll all be split up . Is that true

[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 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

[Guest]

What if I runaway to a friends and plan to never come back because my parents have a flight soon I don’t want to go with them because I won’t return what are the consequences if I get caught ?

[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 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]

will I get in any legal trouble if I run away at 15 and don't get caught but turn 18 will I be in legal trouble

[ccsmod4]

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. We are not legal experts so we only can give some general information. Seeing that running away is a status offense once the turns18 it may no longer be in effect. To get specific information about this you might consider contacting the non-emergency number of your local police department.

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

[Guest]

I wanna leave to a friend house for a few days bc I’m tired of my life to get away will I get in Trouble

[ccsmod15]

Hello –

Thank you for contacting us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes great courage to reach out. I’m sorry to hear that life at home has led you to want to run away, that sounds like a difficult situation to deal with.

Having a place to stay to ensure that you are safe is very important. While we are not legal experts, running away is not considered illegal. However, since you are a minor, your guardians have the right to file a runaway report. With a runaway report, if the police find you they would return you home unless you express to them that you live in an unsafe environment. If you left home and decided to stay with a friend, they could get in trouble for harboring a runaway. To learn more about the process of running away you can also call the National Center of Homeless Education Hotline at 1-800-308-2145.

If you would like to discuss the reasons as to why you want to runaway or you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat.

We hope the information provided helps. Remember we are available 24/7 and can be toll-free reached at the number listed above. We are confidential, anonymous, and non-direct.

Best Wishes
~NRS

[Guest]

Looking for strategies to bring them home. What can you do to bring them home?

[ccsmod15]

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. They are 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 runaway 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. 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 their youth.

If you have a way to communicate with your child either email, text, phone, or social media you can inform them that we are offer confidential 24/7 support. We can try to locate some resources that could be of assistance, wherever they are located, to help keep them safe. If you do not have contact with your child, we also offer a message service where parents can call us to leave a message for their child. If the youth calls in, we can deliver this message. We also take messages from youth to their parents that we deliver as well. This can be a great option for you to express yourself in a safe, productive, and non-confrontational way. If you choose to utilize our message service, we encourage you to spread the word to anyone you think may be in contact with your child to increase the chances of your message being retrieved.

Unfortunately we do not have a service that assists with locating youth, but there are agencies that offer to help in this way. One option is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which can be reached at 1-800-843-5678 or this link http://www.missingkids.com/home. You can also try Child Find at 1800-426-5678 or at this link http://childfindofamerica.org/. 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. You can always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY to talk or find additional resources.

[Guest]

I'm about to turn 15 on Nov 12 I've been thinking about running away from home I'm so sick of every ********ing body treating me like a kid and think they can either do or say what they want to me and my mom keeps ********ing lying about me going to texas with my real dads sided of the family mind u this where he lives.

[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.
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 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

[Guest]

What do I do if Im 15 and need to get out of my house for risk of emotional and physical accuser worse than what I'm already dealing with?

[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 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

[Guest]

Hey im 15 me and my girlfriend have been thinking of running away both of our familys arent the best and she has her own family problems my family is basically broken i hate it here everyday theres a problem school is hell i dont think my family cares about me they mostly like my little sister to them im just a big disappointment ive tried to commit suicide but nobody knows i dont feel needed i just wanna be with her and actually be happy.

[ccsmod4]

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.
NRS is here to listen and here to help.
We would be glad to speak with you about strategies or options that might help you to cope better with your situation.
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 about your situation and 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).

You did a wonderful job reaching out today. Good for you.
If you are feeling depressed or suicidal we encourage you to contact the National Suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

If someone age 15 keeps running away and they didn't want to reside with whatever parent are they allowed to get a state paid for apartment or forced to go to a foster home or are they forced to juvenile charges. Curious for state of Virginia on present and past.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out, we know that it takes a lot of courage. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if a minor does opt to leave their home, their parents 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 they are located by the authorities, they will most likely be returned home. If the 15-year-old is a habitual runaway or is chronically truant from school then their parents can file a petition for a Child in Need of Supervision through the courts. If a petition is filed and the youth runs away again, then they could face a range of consequences ranging from community services to juvenile detention.

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

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

I’m 15 thinking/planning about running, life’s breaking apart after my parents divorced my mom has gotten more abuse full to me and my dad who still supports us for the last 3 years after the divorce has started verbal abusing me and a little physical abuse I’m not happy, I can’t smile my dad has only gotten madder after trying to put up 4,000$ for my braces after I failed to understand the consequences of not putting on my retainer for a long time, the verbal abuse has gotten bad and I feel worthless my dad is truly a great man and patient and for me to get him this mad, I feel shame that I couldn’t help him in anyway that I don’t have the best grades he wants, that I’m not taking care of myself like he wants me to and it hurts to know that I’m worthless, I believe if I runaway I can get away from my semi abusing mom and let my dad use his cash more on my 2 sisters and mom then me, i don’t know what could happen if I run away I can’t go to friend's they all know my mom and I would be returned, I can probably steal 200$-400$ My phone and charger and some cloths and after that take a Uber off my dads Debit and go to the nearest train and just keep going, I don’t eat much so I’ll need a 2 water bottle a day and 1 piece of bread a day and my birthday is May 26 I’ll turn 16 I could get some sort of job and sleep on the streets until I could buy a plain ticket to maybe a different country or Japan I don’t know much about Japan but I would probably work in one of those you work and you get food and a roof over your head jobs.....I just felt like saying a sad part of my life

[ccsmod3]

I’m 15 thinking/planning about running, life’s breaking apart after my parents divorced my mom has gotten more abuse full to me and my dad who still supports us for the last 3 years after the divorce has started verbal abusing me and a little physical abuse I’m not happy, I can’t smile my dad has only gotten madder after trying to put up 4,000$ for my braces after I failed to understand the consequences of not putting on my retainer for a long time, the verbal abuse has gotten bad and I feel worthless my dad is truly a great man and patient and for me to get him this mad, I feel shame that I couldn’t help him in anyway that I don’t have the best grades he wants, that I’m not taking care of myself like he wants me to and it hurts to know that I’m worthless, I believe if I runaway I can get away from my semi abusing mom and let my dad use his cash more on my 2 sisters and mom then me, i don’t know what could happen if I run away I can’t go to friend's they all know my mom and I would be returned, I can probably steal 200$-400$ My phone and charger and some cloths and after that take a Uber off my dads Debit and go to the nearest train and just keep going, I don’t eat much so I’ll need a 2 water bottle a day and 1 piece of bread a day and my birthday is May 26 I’ll turn 16 I could get some sort of job and sleep on the streets until I could buy a plain ticket to maybe a different country or Japan I don’t know much about Japan but I would probably work in one of those you work and you get food and a roof over your head jobs.....I just felt like saying a sad part of my life
-----

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline and sharing this difficult part of your life with us. It takes a lot to reach out for support and be so vulnerable, and I commend you for doing so.

It sounds like you've experienced a lot of changes recently, but please know that verbal and/or physical abuse is never okay, and you don't deserve to be treated that way. If you're feeling unsafe at home and need immediate help or safety, you can visit Safe Place by going to nationalsafeplace.org/find-a-safe-place. This is a tool that allows you to type in your zip code and be provided with a list of Safe Place sites nearby. A member from Safe Place will meet with you at that location, transport you to the local agency, and a counselor will provide you and your family with any help or professional services that you might need. Contacting Child Protective Services in your state is also an option if you're feeling unsafe at home. If you want to make a report but need a little support in doing so, consider reaching out to someone you're comfortable talking to--maybe a teacher or a counselor. We can also assist you with filing a report at NRS.

You mentioned running away in your post, and it does seem like you've given some thought to it. It's definitely a good idea to try and have a plan in place when thinking about running away. If you're worried about your mom finding you at a friend's house and making you come home, it might be a good idea for you to see if there are any other places where you feel comfortable that you can stay at AND that she'd agree to. If that doesn't pan out, you may be able to locate an emergency youth shelter in your area. Here's a good resource of homeless shelters across the country: https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org.

It's also important to remind yourself that it's okay to feel sad, especially when dealing with so much at once. Often times, having someone to talk to about those feelings of sadness can be helpful. We're here for you at NRS. If you'd like to talk more about what's going on or explore more options, please feel free to reach out to us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or through our live chat at 1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7, and always happy to help.

Take care,

NRS

[Guest]

hey, i live in New Mexico, i've lived with my father and my step mother for about a year, i was living with my mom before, but i was involved in a lot of illegal activities such as gang affiliation, buying and reselling narcodics, and buuying and reselling firearms. in July of 2019, i picked up some charges for car theft, and possession of stolen firearms, i went to jail and when i got out i went on the run because i thought i wasn't going to be able to beat the case so i "did the race". i got caught and i went to court and i only got probation, after that i started living with my father to try and get away from my gang activity and lifestyle. but the thing is that ive never really known my father most of my life, i was lucky if he came around for the holidays even, this is because he is also involved in gang activity and all the same things i was, but worse cause he's older. but hes been trying to stir away from that lifestyle as well for me. but im 15 years old now and i've done terrible things and i feel like it's to late for him, and i know he's trying his best but he's not parent material, i smoke weed to help me with the ptsd from other things and everytime he finds it, he takes it a way and gets pissed then my step mom has issues as well, she has ptsd, bi-polar disorder, and abandonment issues, every time i get in trouble for something small like the weed or even not doing the dishes, she goes full f****g phyco and so does my dad he starts throwing things at my and kicking and puching things and i am always ready for a fight but i feel like i shouldn't have to fight my dad, even if it means protecting myself. and now about two months ago i was driving a friends car and dammaged the front bumper, i got grounded and had to get a legal job to pay back the damages, im still grounded but this morning they foundout i logged into my social media accounts on my xbox and they started throwing a fit, they don't want me to have contact with anybody incleuding my moms side of the family, but this morning they woke me up off the ccouch and started argeuing with me emedietly, then my step mom goes into my closet and takes several valuble items that are worth over $500 and im trying to get the box from her and ive never ever even touched this lady before, never even given her a high five or a hug, but when she went for my most expensive items i have ( they're legal items, not guns or drugs) i went at her trying to get them, i wasnt just gonna let her take them, because she said she was going to sell them and she knows i care about them, then she pushed me into a dresser and then my dad tackled me and held me on the ground and then he was trying to fight me, i hate it here and i would rather still be living with my mom and get shot because of gang affiliation than be here, i have all my clothes packed and ready to go, now i just need to fill up a bag full of food, i have about $25 in my wallet and $10 in quarters to wash my clothes at the laundry mat for a while.

[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.
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. 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.
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