In Michigan, is it illegal for a 16 year old to run away?

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline. It must be difficult to not be able to see your girlfriend. We’re not legal experts, but it usually isn’t illegal to run away. It’s considered a status offense, which just means that the youth left without permission of their guardian. Something to also keep in mind is that some states have what is called harboring laws. If a runaway report is filed, these laws allow for people that knowingly let runaways stay with them could be charged. Generally, whether or not the police will go after a runaway is up to the local police department. Some actively look for runaways and others may not do anything unless they happen to have an interaction with the runaway.

If you have any other questions or need support, please feel free to reach back out. We can be reached at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or via chat at www.1800RUNAWAY.org. We’re here 24/7. Best of luck!

my girlfriend is having issues with her mom as we are not allowed to see eachother. i have talked to my therapist before and she said that they will not go after a 17 year old in michigan if they run away. she is 16 as of now and won’t be 17 until 7 months. will the police go after 16 year olds?

[ccsmod15]

Hi, and thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’ve had to face a lot of stress and mental abuse at home, and it makes sense that you want to find a way out of that environment. it sounds like you know that you deserve to feel at ease in your home, and not face mentally abusive behavior, and it’s a good thing that you’re looking for support right now.



It’s not illegal to run away from home, but like you mentioned, we are not legal experts and we cannot predict how your families or the police will react. They may look for you and your boyfriend, and if they find you then they might bring you home, even if you go to another state. Once you turn 18, this is no longer an issue, and it is not a crime to have run away from home before turning 18. If you’re not sure you want to take the risk of running away and being brought home, or you’re not sure how your families will react, then those are two things to consider.



There are many other factors to consider when making a decision over running away from home, including considerations such as finding a place to stay, schooling, transportation and money. Please contact the NRS any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY or reach out to us via chat - we are a 24/7, anonymous, confidential hotline and we’re here to talk through these factors and anything else you’d like to talk about. We are always here to talk through your options and help you make the decision that you feel is best for you. You don’t have to go through alone.



Good luck!

I’m 16 and my boyfriend is 17 and we live in Michigan . let’s say we ran away out of state together… I have a very draining and exhausting, toxic, and mentally abusive household. And I can’t keep up with it any longer. And I’ve been thinking about running away since I was 13 & now it’s becoming too much and I’m at the point of running away, I’ve mentioned it to him and he’d run away with me. I’ve read all the previous comments and you guys said that “IF the police find us they’d most likely bring us home” but that “if”… what if they don’t find us and we moved to a whole different state far away .. IF they don’t find us then are we good ? And then when we’re 18 and come out of hiding will charges still be pressed ?

just curious! Thanks

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline, we are here to support and help you. It sounds like you are going through a tricky situation and we would like you to know you are not alone. We are not legal experts however we do have some information on what could happen in this situation. If you are a minor, which depending on your state could be under 17 or 18 years of age, your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If you are a minor in your state and your legal guardian did in fact file a runaway report, the police can legally bring you back. To our knowledge, many youth shelters require parental notification or consent, and this is an option we'd be happy to explore with you further. We would suggest that you call us or chat with us if you need more help taking the next steps in your situation. You can contact us through our chat (www.1800runaway.org ) which is open 24/7 and our phone number (1-800-RUNAWAY). We are always here and happy to listen, and to help. We hope this information is useful in your situation.

Take care,
NRS

If a teen seeks out a runaway shelter in their area, will they be forced to return home/ go through legal issues or whatever?
Can a teen just go for a while then leave?

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,

The easiest way to leave home is with parental permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how the youth is feeling. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, the youth can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something they are considering.
Otherwise, 18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once youth are filed as a runaway can vary a lot from state to state and even city to city so we cannot predict exactly what would happen in their case. Generally speaking, if they encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, they will likely be returned home. However, in that case there may be services (family counseling, etc.) available to the youth in crisis/runaway but again, police procedures related to offering those services can be different based on location or the details of the situation. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows a runaway youth to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. One way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
We’re here to listen and to help and hope you or your friend can reach out soon.

Take care,
NRS

What if the girl is 16 and nit legal in the US but her father is abd us the reason she wishes nit to be there anymore can I legally take her into my home

[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

My friend online is younger than 13, and they're thinking about running away from abusive parents. They have a place they can go, but I want to take them in (I'm a minor, and my parents would help them a lot) and keep them away. If this plan works out as intended, what would be the legal consequences?

The plan goes like this-
1. Friend runs away to safe place near them, leaving note to keep in contact with their adult brother.
2. My family agrees to take them in, driving for 2-4 days or so to rescue them.
3. Friend arrives at my home, and we call the police, telling them about this.

What would be the most likely outcome, and if we tell the police about how much effort this went into, and how this would be a much better life for them, would we be allowed the friend of mine to stay with us?

They live in Texas, and the reason their parents are considered abusive is because they're trans. If their parents support them, the state views the parents as abusive. If their parents don't support them, they're abusive. My family supports lgbtq, which would help.

I want to help them so much.

Thanks in advance!

[ccsmod3]

Hey there. Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We know that it can take a lot of courage to reach out for support, and we're glad you took that step. It sounds like things between you and your mom are pretty challenging right now, and we're sorry to hear that. It's not okay that she's telling you such hateful things, and we're so glad that you're trying to find help.

Running away is a pretty big decision, and it's generally a good idea to have a plan in place before committing to it, which it seems like you're trying to do now. Consider where you'll go, how you'll get there, and what you'll do to survive once you're there. It's also helpful to spend some time thinking about your safety and what steps you can take to try and safeguard that. It's important that you approach this time from a realistic standpoint and that you have some tough conversations with yourself about what you want, what makes the most sense to get you to that point, and if there are any other worthy options you might be able to consider along the way.

Generally speaking, there are a few options of places to go that we discuss with young people who are thinking about running away. Staying with family and friends is one option. Staying in a youth shelter is another option, though it's important to know that these are typically short-term and temporary options. Sometimes they require parental consent or notification after a certain amount of time as well. Depending on the state that you live in, you also might be able to explore emancipation or transitional living programs. It can be helpful to spend some time researching each of these options to see if they're appropriate ones for you. And if you'd like to explore any of them further, you're welcome to reach out to us directly and we'd be happy to assist. We might also be able to provide you with local referrals in your area.

If you'd like to talk more, please feel free to reach out to us directly by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY, or by chatting with us live at www.1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7 and are always happy to listen, and to help.

Take care.

NRS

I just turned 16, and I hate being with my mom. I have been thinking about running away for months.
she is mentally abusive telling me in a flunk out in school, and how she hates me just all of the above. Its too much. Idk where I'm going to stay. But I'm trying to keep myself alive so I don't go insane

[ccsmod3]

Hey there. Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We know that it can take a lot of courage to reach out for support, and we're glad you took that step. It sounds like you're having an especially tough time with things at home and with your dad, and we're sorry to hear that. It seems like you've spent a lot of time thinking about some of your options, which is a great starting point--kudos to you for being so resourceful.

It's definitely understandable why you'd be concerned about what actions CPS might take if they were to become involved with your family. There are a lot of factors at play and there's no way of knowing what might come, but it's important to keep in mind that your safety (and the safety of your siblings) is a priority. It might require some shifting and adjustments or make you feel uncomfortable, but if it means you're safe, it might be worth it. It's also important for you to know that you might just be your own biggest advocate, and it's okay for you to share your concerns and any of your thoughts with a CPS worker. You can ask questions and make suggestions. This doesn't mean that CPS will do whatever you say, but they may be open to considering it. It might also be a good idea to think about any family or friends that you'd be able to stay with. If your parents agree, then there might not be a need to get CPS involved. But if CPS does get involved, it's possible that they'd consider allowing you to stay with that family member or friend.

You mentioned going to therapy and it sounds like you have a good relationship with your therapist. It sounds like there a few different circumstances where you feel you'd be at risk of harm by your dad or that you'd might pose a risk to yourself or your dad. It's definitely important to pay attention to those feelings and to make sure that you have a plan in place should they arise. If you're open to it, it might be a good idea to ask your therapist to help you come up with a safety plan should you find yourself in one of those circumstances. A safety plan will help you decide the immediate next best steps to take during those moments. We're also happy to help safety plan with you as well, so please feel free to reach out to us directly if that's something you're interested in. In the meantime, if you ever feel that you're in imminent danger (whether by your father or to yourself), please try to get somewhere safe and call your local law enforcement agency for immediate support. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also a resource that you can reach out to if you're harming yourself or thinking about killing yourself. Their phone number is 1-800-273-8255 and they also have a 24/7 live chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You might also be interested in The Trevor Project, which is an LBGTQ+ Youth Suicide Lifeline. Their phone number is 866-488-7386 and they also have a 24/7 live chat on their website at www.thetrevorproject.org. If texting is easier, you can also text with them by texting START to 678-678.

If you'd like to chat more about what's going on at home, please feel free to reach out to us directly here at NRS. We're available 24/7 by phone (1-800-RUNAWAY) or chat (www.1800runaway.org), and are always happy to listen, and to help.

Take care.

NRS

Hey um, I'm only 12 and 11 months old. I want to run away and I know thats not a good idea right now because I wouldn't be able to get a job even like McDonald's until I'm 15-16 I think so if I do then I'll probably do it when I'm 15 or 16.

I've just been so abused verbally, emotionally, and not sure if it's sexual but my dad sometimes opens the shower door and talks to me while I'm showering and he kind of made fun of me when I kept telling him to get out of the bathroom and acted like I was a snowflake and so did my 17 year old sis (this singular incident happened about a month or two ago). He's also racist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, and is a narcissist and that really sucks when I'm pansexual and am probably non-binary too. He's threatened to physically hit me so much, and has screamed, and guilt triped me even more times to the point where I block lots of memories out or cant remember them in chonological order, started to self harm as a coping mechanism a year ago and tried to end it all around 4 months ago I think. He has threatened to kill me too at least 4 times where I have been scared for my life but no one really protected me or been able to get him away. I resent my mom for letting it get to this point.

Anyways, I know that CPS can take me away at this point and even my therapist (she sees me every Monday atfer the suicide attempt thanks to the school) asked if I wanted someone else to take care of me. But there are three main problems with that, one, I might have to go to another school and I'd lose what support I have with the kids there, I'd probably lose my therapist too, and I'd still want to be able to see my mom and my sister despite me being really angry at them for letting all that's happen, happen. Two, the Childcare system is really, REALLY, messed up and they don't really care about what would be the best home for you, and lots of those homes (from what I've heard) are abusive or toxic too and if your part of the LGBT+ and they don't take that into account they could give you homophobic and transphobic parents, or abusive ones. Third reason is that if the CPS people looked around my house and stuff and my dad found out well.... to put it lightly in my opinion he hasn't psychically attacked me just threatened to, but he will soon probably and that could be the last straw...

Im so, so, SO, tired and I want to kill him or myself to excape. I don't feel like if I stay in this situation that I'll make it to be 18 and be able to excape this hell-hole in the usual way. I don't what to do and it feels like a lose, lose, lose situation no matter what. Please help. Also if it changes anything at all I live in Michigan.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult situation and we want you to know you are not alone.
You do not deserve to be abused in any way, and you do have the right to report abuse. You can call Child Help at 1800-422-4453 if you would like to make an abuse report.
We know you mentioned wanting to leave, we are not legal experts but we do have some information on the laws. Even if you were to let your parents know where you are at, if they do not grant you permission that would be considered running away. If they were to file a runaway report and the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home.

We hope that this information will be helpful 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 available by phone or by chat 24/7. Best of luck,
NRS