i am thinking of running away..

[Unregistered]

I am 17 and i turn 18 in april. I Am Thinking of running away from home to live with a friend, because staying at home I am not allowed to do anything... I am not trusted nor let out of the house ever unless its for school. if I run away can my mom do anything to me? How much trouble would I really be in? please respond I need some help thinking about pros and cons on running away

[ccsmod4]

I am thinking about running away

Hello,

Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

It sounds like you have become frustrated with the amount of trust and freedom you have at home. Those are two pretty important things.
It would be interesting to know more about your situation as to explore possible options that might help cope. By leaving home we understand your concerns about taking such a big risk.

Because you are still considered a minor your mother could decide to attempt to file a runaway report with the police. Being a runaway is known as a status offense in most states and usually carries no legal penalties. You can however be detained and possibly returned home if you were to come in contact with the police.

It’s great that you want to weigh your options of pros and cons before making a decision about running away. You are welcome to call 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or visit www.1800Runaway.org to speak more on your situation.
How does that sound?

We hope to hear from you soon.

Take Care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I am 12 and my mother has a boyfriend and now is disclosing me in a lot of things and sometimes I try to say stop be she doesn’t . She was doing this before she had this boyfriend I would try to sit with her and see yells at me to go in the other couch ....

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thanks for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult situation. One option could be to talk with your mother about how you are feeling. She may not even realize what she is doing. At NRS we offer conference calling where if you call us we can call out to your parents. Conference calling allows you to be heard, and we are there to mediate the conversation and provide support to you. Another option could be, to try and talk to a school counselor or a trusted teacher about what is going on. Sometimes talking to someone about your feelings allows you to have a different perspective and might make you feel better.
We are not legal experts but we do have some knowledge of the laws. If you were to leave home without permission your parents do have the right to file a runaway report. If the police found you they would most likely bring you back home. We hope if you do decide to leave home that you have a safe plan. Your safety is our top concern.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore your options further please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide support. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hey. I have had a really tough time at home lately. My mom has bipolar and will sometimes come home drunk or high. She puts me down a lot and barely holds a conversation with me anymore. I can’t live with my dad because my stepmom WILL NOT allow me to move in with them. My dad got emergency custody in 2015 because my mom was filed with DSS for neglect. But had to move back in with my mom after a suicide attempt. I turned 17 on Tuesday. I have a stable job and I have 2 people I know would let me live with them. I know it’s not the best idea to run away but the thought is becoming more and more frequent to me. I don’t know what to do at this point

[ccsmod10]

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