Is it illegal to runaway when you're 14? what can happen?

[ccsmod3]

Hi, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you have run away and are wondering what to do. We generally recommend finding a safe place to go, so if there is a family member or a friend you can reach out to, otherwise police can also help find you a safe place to go. You mention not having access to call, but we do have a chat platform at 1800runaway.org if you are able to reach out on that. We can help more with having a conversation with you and can try to come up with some options of places to go or if you want to talk more about why you ran away, we are here 24/7. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

I dont have acess to calling ive ran away from home and im 13 idk what to do

[ccsmod15]

Hi, we are grateful that you reached out to us. It sounds like your dad has been causing you emotional and verbal abuse that may lead to physical abuse in the future. We want to let you know that you do not deserve to be treated like that- it is unacceptable and we are so sorry to hear you've been dealing with this at home. One option is to call and report the abuse you've been experiencing. If you want to do it yourself, you can look up the child abuse reporting number for your state; you can also text chat us (1800runaway.org) or call us at 1-800-786-2929 and we can do so on your behalf.It might also be worthwhile to talk with someone you trust about it. Talking about it with an adult (like a counselor, other family member, teacher, etc.) might create more actual physical change, while talking about it with a peer (in-person or online friend that you like + trust) can help provide ongoing emotional support to help cope when things are tough.

Secondly, it seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you may feel like running away. 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 parents 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 in your county and laws regarding the emancipation process, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions. If you are looking for legal aid help in your area to see if there are other options for you, a great resource is contacting United Way by calling 211. United Way is a free and confidential service available 24/7 that you can contact to find local resources in your area.

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

im 13 and in a strange situation. i want to be put into another family but bc i am already adopted i cant. my dad is verbally abusive and has threatened to hit me a couple times. i never spoke up ab anything until recently. my dad hasnt hit me yet but i feel like if he does maybe that'll help ppl realize i need to get out of this house. i want to run away but i have nowhere to go and not much money. i think if i can wait until im 15 maybe i can try for emancipation. i rlly dont know what to do i have been so unhappy here for three years and i feel so trapped. ik u may not be able to help ig i jus wanted to get it off my chest since i cant rlly talk ab it here.

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you want to run away because your dad is emotionally abusive and has been physically abusive in the past. You do not deserve to be treated this way. Unfortunately, our knowledge of running away is based on laws in the US, and we do not know how it is handled in New Zealand. A resource that might be able to help you is: https://childhelplineinternational.org/helplines/. Other options can be to talk to a trusted adult like a friend’s parent or an adult at school to see if they can help you. You deserve to be somewhere you feel safe.
Best of luck,
NRS

i want to runaway and i am 14 in auckland new zealand my dad always emotionally abuses me and has hit me in the pass but i dont want to get in trouble or be put in foster care, can someone please let me know what will happen?

[ccsmod10]

We are thankful you reached out to us; what you have been through sounds truly painful, frustrating, and disheartening. It makes sense if you are feeling stuck, hopeless, or like things will never get better. When the people responsible for your wellbeing fail you over and over again, it's very easy for mental wellbeing to worsen.

It's not uncommon for police to respond that way, unfortunately. Even when it isn't the right place for you to be, they often prioritize keeping the family together over letting you stay the place that makes you feel better/safer.

One option is to call and report the abuse you've been experiencing. If you want to do it yourself, you can look up the child abuse reporting number for your state; you can also text chat us (1800runaway.org) or call us at 1-800-786-2929 and we can do so on your behalf.

It might also be worthwhile to talk with someone you trust about it. Talking about it with an adult (like a counselor, other family member, teacher, etc.) might create more actual physical change, while talking about it with a peer (in-person or online friend that you like + trust) can help provide ongoing emotional support to help cope when things are tough.

The way you are feeling sounds like a justified byproduct of your environment, and the good news is that it isn't permanent. You deserve to be in an environment where you can thrive. You don't have to figure this out on your own. Please reach out to us again and we can talk about things more.

I'm 15 in an abusive household and I want to run away. I try calling the cops but my mom lies about it and the cops won't do anything about it. I've tried to run away before but I just kept getting put back in the household. I'm almost to the point of trying suicide. what do I do?

[ccsmod10]

We are really glad that you reached out to us. It sounds like you have been on the receiving end of a lot of disrespectful mistreatment lately, which is not what you deserve. Hopefully this post can be the start of something new, because you (you are in the real, authentic you-- not the facade you) clearly have a lot to offer and deserve to be in relationships that support that, rather than dragging you down.

If your mom has been restricting you from eating, that very much qualifies as neglect, which is a reportable form of abuse. If you have anyone at school (teacher, counselor, etc.) that you like / trust, it might be worth telling them (which we know can be scary). Otherwise, you can contact us (you can live chat us from our website 1800runaway.org) to report it with you/for you. You can also look up child abuse reporting for your state and call them yourself if you feel comfortable, though it can be good to have an ally with you. It might result in folks from Child Protective Services investigating what's been going on at home. You/we can also contact law enforcement or your school. You do not deserve to be hungry, and we can find ways to fix it.

Also, it's not silly to be feeling the pain of her taking away your toys+computer. When you're in a stressful environment, having healthy/creative ways to relieve yourself from that is super important.

Because you mentioned self harm and suicidal thoughts, we want to give you a couple resources. We know that self-harm is almost always a byproduct of deep emotional pain, and we want to be able to help as much as we can to help you find safety in how you work through this.

This is a list of things you can do when you get the impulse to SH: https://www.firstpersonplural.org.uk...-self-harm.pdf
And this is the website for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

If possible, please contact us again. We want to help find a way for you to get to a place where you feel safe and set up to thrive.

hello. I am a 14 year old girl and I absolutely hate my family. Let me explain. as of now I live with my siblings and mom. My mom got mad at me because i supposedly ignored her and disrespected her and she said and I quote "You are no longer my child, don't touch my stuff, don't even open the the fridge. and i better not see you try. and don't talk to me, we are now strangers. I don't care if you runaway you can go right ahead. I don't care. don't say anything back, we are now strangers." and that was the last conversation we had and she wasn't bluffing either. she took my phone (I'm using my school computer to write this) and she is now planning to take my computer. a couple weeks back she took my toys and computer. although to most people those don't mean anything but to me those were my only escape from reality because my life was mentality draining and i was always mentally abused by the things they did. I was able to go on for this long by just eating at school and at home i would look around for quarters to buy some chips at the store. but as of right now its Saturday, I ran out of money and I am absolutely hungry. there's nothing i can do because my siblings are my mothers little lap dogs and i honestly can't take it anymore. no one here cares for me and i know this because i self- harmed and accidently forgot to cover up and no one asked or even batted an eye. i never had anyone to talk to because if i told my sibling they would've told my mom getting me in trouble and my mom never listens or even bothers to understand what im going through. i did many attempts but failed all of them and even when it was clear i attempted and again no one batted an eye. i am sick and tired of all of this. and i made up my mind about two things and i decided to accept what ever shall come first. i shall either 1. off my self from this planet, or 2. runaway. and i have been thinking of No.1 for the longest but haven't because of my friends but when all is said and done, the personality that they like about me is just a fake one and no where near my real one and it's an absolute mental drain keeping that façade up. i don't CPS because the mental abuse isn't visible to others because they are so good at hiding it. i need to saved out of here and taken away from that biatch because if i don't get taken away swiftly and calmly i am seriously going to kill myself or those bastards. i want out of this family and i am leaving it one way or another and i'm not afraid to go to jail. i hate it here and will do anything to leave. i know of the dangers of running away at such a young age, and honestly would rather get Forced into prostitution, get kidnapping, getting raped, and assaulted than staying here. please i beg of you if theres a way to get me outta here without biening brought back by the police please by all means tell me. cuz of right now i just found candy and i'm eating that to at least get rid or some of my hunger. thank you,

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for posting and so sorry to hear you're going through a tough situation at home. If you decide to leave, the most important thing is making a safety plan: having a safe place to stay with people you trust, a plan for attending school, and making sure your basic needs for food, health care and clothing. If you'd like to talk more about your situation and brainstorm some options, we are here for you 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us via the chat feature at www.1800runaway.org

Stay safe,
NRS

man i really felt that g I'm 14 and my living situation is exactly like yours I'm leaving soon I'm planning it out f**k out that would be my answer to everyone as well if your going thought this just leave to a mates or something reach out ;]

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out, we know it can be difficult to take that first step. We hope to help as best we can. You mentioned being abused and it having stopped about 3 years ago, we want to share this resource with you in case you ever feel unsafe. 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. You deserve to be in a home where you feel safe. If you feel unsafe and feel the need to run away from home, we can help find shelters and resources in your area.
If you are under the age of 18 your parents may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once you 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 your case. Generally speaking, if you encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, you will likely be returned home. However, in that case there may be services (family counseling, etc.) available to you as a youth in crisis/runaway but again, police procedures related to offering those services can be different based on your location or the details of your situation. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows you 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.
If you would like to talk in more detail, reach out to us via chat or phone call.
Stay strong,
NRS

Im 14 and School is just to much for me to take. I have tried to run away before but never had the courage to do it considering my parents. I cant take this life anymore I was physicaly abused when I was younger and my father left me for another woman. The abuse has stopped for at least 3 years but I feel so stressed and I have tried talking to my parents about it but it never seems to help me. When Im outside alone I feel free and ready for anything I need to RUN I need to get away! And all this politics going on is also stressing me the ******** out. Whats up with the police in texas? Will they come search for me? and how do I get to a shelter?

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline. It’s a big decision to run away, so it’s very smart to find support. It seems that you and your mom haven’t had the best relationship, and it’s probably frustrating to not be able to feel safe or treated respectfully at home. Your safety is the most important thing. If you start to think about suicide, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support. The service is confidential and free.

We’re not legal experts, but it’s generally not illegal to run away. It’s considered a status offense, which just means that you left without your mom’s permission. Each police department decides how they handle runaways. You can always call your local non-emergency police department anonymously and ask how they handle runaways. Depending on what state you live in, there may also be harboring laws in effect. These laws essentially say that it may be illegal to knowingly provide shelter for a runaway. Before you choose to run, there are some other things to consider, like where you’ll stay, getting food, earning money, etc. In addition to help planning and providing resources, we can also identify and explore other options with you. You can reach us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or live chat at 1800runaway.org. We’re here 24/7 and confidential. Best of luck!