What are the consequences of a 15 year old running away

[Guest]

Hi i am 15 years old and my parents are very loving and caring but i can never seem to do any thing right i have thought about running away for a while now what should i do

[ccsmod10]

Hey,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS!

We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on. It’s brave of you to reach out during your time of need. We have a database of resources and if you’re able to call in, we can try to brainstorm with you and get a better idea of your situation. If you are thinking about running away and somewhere to stay, we can try to find a runaway shelter for you. Unfortunately, we are non-directive at NRS, and can't give out advice, but we're always here to talk and listen.

Our safeline is open 24/7. We also have a chatting service via our website, unfortunately, it is not always open. The best way to contact us would be to call in and talk with our trained liners.

Be well, NRS

[Guest]

if you get kicked out of your house and have nowhere to go but the street are you a runaway or just homeless

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for your question. If you are a minor kicked out of your home, you would be considered a "throwaway," which is generally considered neglectful on the part of the parent. If you are in that situation, we encourage you to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 to talk more specifically about your situation and see if we can connect you with shelter resources or transitional programs.

Thanks,

NRS

[Guest]

i’ve been planning on running away when i turn 15 because i hate it at my house and at school and my birthday is in 9days and i have a place to stay but my boyfriend wants to go to another state and so do i i’m just scared we will get caught and then if i have to go back to my house i don’t know what to expect.

[ccsmod3]

We are here to support you in any way we can. From what you shared it sounds like you are going through a rough time with your home life and school. You deserve to live somewhere safe and to feel happy. We are not legal experts but I can give you some general information about running away. Running away is not illegal, but if your parents file a runaway report there is a possibility you will be returned home. And if your boyfriend is 18 or older he could face legal consequences. Running away can be a hard decision so legal issues are something to consider. You mentioned that you have a place to stay if you do leave home, but it might also be useful to think of how you will support yourself financially or what you will do in case of a medical emergency.
It is important that you feel supported and feel safe where you are living. You could try talking to a friend, family member, or school counselor you feel comfortable with. If you need someone to talk to you can always chat or call us at 1-800-786-2929. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting CONNECT to 741741. If you consider staying or want to try to talk with your parents, we can conference call with you and your parents and advocate for your needs. Thinking about running away can be scary and reaching out for help is a great step.
We are here to listen and support you, so please give us a call if you wanted to talk more about your situation.

[Guest]

I've been planning on running away because ever since my mom died I've been my own parent pretty much. So if I ran away and told the officer that whould they still bring me home?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Ive been planning on running away

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.
It also sounds like you are considering running away but have some concerns about being picked up by the police.
While we are not experts on the law, someone under 18 that leaves home, the parent/guardian may file them as a runaway and they may be returned home.

Also, those that a reported runaway stays with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. Anyone found to be assisting or aiding someone to run away may also find themselves at risk legally. For more specifics on the law, you might consider contacting the local non-emergency number for the police. You might also look for a legal aid center in the area. They may be able to answer any legal questions on the subject.

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



We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

I’m 15 and I’ve been planning for a while on running away for a while. (Idk how long). I think I’m going to go through with my plan even though I don’t have a place to stay. Since I don’t have a place to stay and I’m nit going to inform anyone, what charges will be put on me when I come back or if I’m found. I’m just hoping jail isn’t an option, but if it is I would like to know before I start on my “adventure”.

hey its not going to help cuz i did it so many times and i went to court

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for telling us about how you’ve experienced this type of situation it must have been a difficult one to go through. Though we aren’t legal experts, what we can say is that each case is different and has it’s own outcome. So what might be true for someone, another might find they had no court time or fines to pay. Others might have both. It all depends on state and the willingness of your guardian to take you back and what they want to do.
Again we want to commend your bravery for reaching out and more than anything seeking out help which can be the most difficult of all things. We hope that we have helped provide some options for you to look over. If for any reason you feel like you have more questions or concerns please do not hesitate to call us at (1-800-786-2929) or online at (www.1800runaway.rg) on our chat option.
Best Wishes-NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 15 year old girl and I don’t now if I want to runaway or not the only reason why I want to runaway is because I feel like everyone is yelling at me for no reason and saying mean things when it’s suppose to be a joke and like nothing would change cause my parents barely Evan listen to m. All I want to do is just stop all the fighting and yelling

[ccsmod5]

Hi, thank you so much for reaching out. It sounds like you're under a lot of stress right now. It can be really hard dealing with all the conflict at home...but you don't have to go through it alone.

It's hard to have to endure arguing at home and its valid that you want that to stop, but its important to reach out to the other people in your home so that they know that the behavior is bothering you. That way, you can hopefully work together to create a better environment.. Even if you think talking to your parents won't work, its important to try in case it does work and help change things for the better. If you want help talking to them with someone who will advocate for you, we offer a conference call service between youth and parents. We would be there with you to make sure you feel heard. And we are here 24/7 so we can do the call at any time. There's also counseling through school or a private counselor. We are always available to help you explore options and find resources over the phone.

Its understandable wanting to run away and it's ok to want to escape all of that stress at home but it's important to consider the effect of running on your life. How would you support yourself? How would you go to school? How would running away affect your parents and your relationship with them? Would it help solve the problem of arguing at home? We can help you work out a plan of action at anytime over chat or on the phone.

Thank you again for reaching out, and feel free to do so again at any time.

[Guest]

hi im 15 and i want to run away i currently live in California and i need to get to Ohio. I currently live with my aunt thrown between two houses because i was in an abusive home i have already talked to cps and police and they just let me live with my aunt. i dont like living there because i am not allowed to be myself i am gay and my family doesnt accept that. my girlfriend doesnt live in the same state as me so i really want to get to her. i have no safe spaces in california im extremely broken and i dont know what to do. they took away my best friend and now they took away my girlfriend im so hurt by this and im scared to speak out. any advice?

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot. It can be so difficult living with people who do not accept your identity. You deserve to be loved and supported just the way you are. It’s completely understandable that you would feel hurt and broken. While we can’t guarantee that your aunt or your family will change their feelings, we promise that there are so many people who will love you just as you are. We care about your well-being and your safety. You are not alone!
You wrote that you want to run away from California to Ohio. It could be helpful to know some general information about runaway laws. If you leave home without permission, your aunt would have the right to file a runaway report and if the police are able to find you they may return you home. That being said, if you believe leaving is your only option, you may want to consider how you would get to Ohio from California safely. It’s important to make a clear plan for how you’d take care of yourself and what might happen if your plan with your girlfriend doesn’t work out.
Another option to consider is staying where you are and trying to work things out with your family. It could be an option to pursue family counseling. If you’re interested in this option and need help locating a resource near you, there are a couple great resources. The first is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 1-877-726-4727. The other is NAMI, or the National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-NAMI. Here at NRS, we do offer mediation calling, so if you need help talking to your aunt about pursuing family counseling, we are here to help.
Thank you for reaching out. We hope this was helpful. If you need additional resources or want to speak more specifically about what’s been going on, please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929. We are here 24/7 to listen and to help.
Stay safe!
NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away at 16, but not because my environment or my family is bad. My mom just wants to force me into a future that I don’t want she has me in this community service type program. But I want to go the Art path, yes helping the community is good, I just don’t want to waste my time on it. When it’s no where near what I want to do. Me and my mom argue everytime she says we’re going to it. This time I asked her,”Can’t I leave at 16?” She said,”Yes, but you won’t have help” how can I get help? What should I do?

[ccsmod7]

Hello,

Running away is a big decision so we are glad you reached out first. In most states, 18 is the legal age when you can leave home. Leaving home before then means your parents can file a runaway report and if the police come into contact with you, they usually take you back home.

It sounds like you care about your family but want to leave because your mom is not supportive of your dreams to pursue art. It can be difficult to have a conversation with your parents if you feel like you aren’t heard. Sometimes it can be helpful to have another adult around when you’re trying to talk to them so that they can stand up for you and try to keep the conversation calm and fair. That person could be a guidance counselor, other family member, or any other adult you trust. Here at NRS, we also offer a conference call service and can help you have that conversation with your parents. You deserve to be heard and to be supported with trying to make things better and not feel ashamed.

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) or www.1800Runaway.org. We will be happy to explore some options with you.
NRS is here to listen and here to help.
We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi

Im 15 and Im in highschool, Ive been planning on running away because my mom is setting expectations extremely high for me and she blames every little mistake on me, even if i never did it.

I'm never free to do anything, im always homebound never able to leave the house you hang with friends only for school. My sister is the same as my mom but she is worse she always shame me and calls me "Slut" or "Whore"

If i try to tell my mom she'll say that Im lying and never believe me. My boyfriend said i could leave with him and his parents, they are extremely nice and they understood the situation. I just want to runaway for at least a week or 2 weeks.

[ccsmod2]

Hi there,

Thanks so much for reaching out. It sucks that you don’t feel supported by your family, especially your mom and sister. You shouldn’t have to deal with your sister calling you those things and shaming you or with your mom setting unfair expectations that you feel you can’t meet.

It’s great that you have a supportive boyfriend and that his parents are supportive and understanding as well. It’s also great that you’re reaching out for advice. Some things to consider are how your mom might react if you run away, even if it’s just for a week or two, and how you might talk to her when you get back. If you feel that you need additional support or want to talk to someone who knows you a little better, you could consider talking with a favorite teacher at school or a school counselor. If you feel you can talk with any other family members about your concerns, that could also be a good option.

You can also call our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 if you would like to talk to someone on the phone about your situation. Thanks again for reaching out, and don’t hesitate to call. We’re available 24/7.

[Guest]

Hello, I'm 16 and on probation for cutting myself Bc I have had a rough life and i want to runway because I can't stand the town I live in Bc the cops are rude and don't help you I live in a bad place and my school treats me as I'm a bad person but I'm in rotc and do/did a lot for my cummunity. At this point in life I wanna leave as soon as possible and I want to know how much trouble I could get in for dipping out . Me and my fiancé want to runaway together Bc this place is so bad. Will I get in trouble?

[ccsmod5]

Hi,

Thanks so much for reaching out. It sounds like you’re under a great deal of stress, all without a lot of support. That can be seriously overwhelming and I can understand why you might want to run away. Whether or not you decide to run away, the most important thing is to make sure that you’re safe. If you do run away, it’s crucial that you know you’re going to a safe place and you have a plan for your life wherever you go.

As for whether or not you’ll get in trouble, it depends on a few factors. Firstly, at your age, running would only be considered a status offense. It isn’t illegal for a minor to run away, but your parent or guardian could file a runaway report with the police who might come and take you home. As we don’t know much about your living situation or where you plan to go, it’s hard to say who might file such a report or how the police would respond. Also, the fact that you're on probation could mean that you'll face more serious consequences for running away than one typically would.

If you want to talk a little more about your situation, or about anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call our crisis line at 1-800-786-2929. It will be much easier to talk about your options and potential consequences over the phone. Someone is always here to listen and to help, 24/7. If you’d rather not talk on the phone, our online chat service is available at 1800runaway.org.

Thanks again for reaching out. We hope to hear from you soon.

[Guest]

Hi I’m 11 years old and I feel like I’ve been trapped in a box by my parents for a while now, and I’m thinking about running away is that bad or normal. And if it is bad what are somethings to do so I don’t feel like this?

[ccsmod6]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out to us here at NRS. From what you shared, it sounds like you have been dealing with some issues with your parents which we are sorry to hear. What you are feeling is valid and we are always here to talk if you feel comfortable sharing more. We are here 24/7 over our phone lines (1-800-RUNAWAY) and we also have an online chat system as well at 1800runaway.org. We would love to talk as we truly care about you and we are confidential. If you do feel like leaving home, we can talk further about that as well. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you want to talk further.
Best, NRS

[Guest]

I live in texas and im wondering what charges i will face when i return if i do. Im 14 so i do t have a job and no placs tk stay

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We can understand your situation might be stressful and often times draining. So we commend your bravery to reach out. Our goal is to help give you some options and resources available to you at the current moment so that you can be aware of them all and can make an educated decision about what your next steps look like.
Though we are not legal experts, from what we can tell is that because you are a minor your parents have the right to file a runaway report. As a result if your parents or police know where you are located they can come and take you back home. Some options you have if you do not want to go back is to contact us to at NRS. We offer resources for shelters and transitional living programs. These places would help you find a safe place in the meantime while you seek out next steps. Know that NRS is also here 24/7 and available to talk whenever you may need it.
Again thank you for seeking us out at NRS. We hope that we have helped answer your questions pertaining to your situation. We know it can take a lot for you to reach out so we appreciate it. Know that if you have more questions or concerns please feel free to call us at (1-800-786-2929) or online through our chat option at (www.1800runaway.org). Best wishes to you and your situation.
NRS

[Guest]

My boyfriend(Ill call him Scott for this) is 16, lives with his father and little sister(7 years old). His dad is night shifts and leaves them home alone at night from 3:00p.m-4:00a.m. Scott has been talking about running away for the last few days because his dad never leaves much food for them...and always puts the weight on him and constantly puts him down...Scott has tried for years to get along with his dad but every time he tries it just gets worse...please tell me what I can do to help...or what he should do....

[ccsmod6]

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. Your boyfriend is lucky to have someone like you looking out for him and obviously so concerned for his wellbeing. It sounds like he is in a really tough situation where he has to do more than his fair share of taking care of the house and his sister. Maybe you could have him and his sister over for dinner at your house in order to help them out food wise. It’s hard for us to speak on his circumstances without knowing some more information. If you or he would like to talk more about what’s going on, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us on our 24/7 hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY or on chat at 1800runaway.org.