Are you considered a runaway if you are initially kicked out but asked to come back?

[Guest]

So I am 15. And my mom kicked me out after two days she texted me telling me to go back home or she will report me as a runaway. She is extremely controlling and really verbally and mentally abusive. She also use to be physical but lately she has been threatening me saying that she will fight me like a girl in the streets. Do I have to go back home? If I make a report that she kicked me out will I be able to continue staying at a friends house? Will I legally need to go back? Waht are my options?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like your mom has been abusive in a variety of ways, which you never deserve to be treated that way. It also sounds like she kicked you out, but is now telling you to come back. If your mom were to file a runaway report and you were found by police, you would likely be brought back home, but your mom kicking you out in the first place is considered neglect since you are a minor and could be reported to Child Protective Services. The other abuse and threats you are experiencing could be reported as well. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that you would be able to stay at your friends, the only people who can do that are either if your mom gives permission or CPS deems that it is okay if they were to investigate.
If you would like to discuss this further with us, please call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chats us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 15 in oregon. My mom kicked me out and so now im trying to figure out where to go. but ik if i call the cops my mom will deny everything and i will get in huge trouble and lose everything. Im confused and scared of going back into the foster system. what do i do?

[ccsmod9]

Hi, there! Thank you for contacting us at the National Runaway Safeline. We are here to listen, and we are here to help. We are so sorry to learn that your mom has kicked you out. It must be difficult to feel as though you have nowhere to go. Your fear is understandable.

It sounds like you are saying that you would call the cops to help you regain entry to your mom’s house, correct? First, we are not legal experts. However, we can inform you about what we know by way of our experience and what we have read about. If you are under the age of 18, not emancipated, and your mom kicks you out, this can be considered abandonment. Check out this article below for more details: https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/l...of-their-home/. Even if you were above the age of majority, while it looks like things vary more, it is clear is that one has to go through the court system to evict a relative. So, it seems like, no matter your age, your mom is in the wrong. Check out this article for more details: https://www.nhregister.com/realestat...s-12459052.php. The police may be helpful in helping you to regain entry. However, it is understandable if you believe they won’t help due to something she may say or deny. You know your situation best; we just want to provide information that perhaps you did not know about.

Another concern you raised is fears of returning to the foster system. Did you have a pretty good relationship with your case manager? Perhaps they could help to answer any questions or concerns you may have overall?
Please know that if you ever find yourself without shelter, there are many agencies who may be able to help. If you get to a point where you need somewhere to stay, you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY to find youth shelters, United Way 211 by dialing 211 or using this website: https://www.211.org/, or check out a website called Homeless Shelter Directory (https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/).

We invite you to call (1-800-RUNAWAY or 1-800-786-2929) or chat with us today (https://www.1800runaway.org/)! Hang in there! Your situation does sound difficult. However, you are doing an awesome job advocating for yourself and looking for help.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17 in the state of Georgia. My mother kicked me out during a verbal/physical argument where she left a mark on my face(which I have a picture of). She stated in text she didn’t want me to move out a few days after when I asked to come get my stuff. I left anyways since she is abusive and she had no issue with it until recently. There was a death in the family, and as a result I missed school. She’s now mad at me for missing and saying I need to return to her house or she will call the cops. Can she legally have me returned to her, and can the family I’m staying with get in trouble?

[ccsmod3]

Hi, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like there was an argument with mom that led to her leaving a mark on your face and then mom kicked you out and is now wanting you back home. That sounds like a frustrating situation and you also never deserve to be hit or abused in any way. We’re sorry to hear that there was also a death in the family and it’s understandable that you missed school because of that. Unfortunately, legally mom can change her mind and tell you to come back home and possibly get police involved. It is also possible for the family you are staying with to get charged with what’s called harboring a runaway, though the charges for that can vary. An option given what you have shared is to report the abuse/neglect (initially getting kicked out) to Child Protective Services. We can help you with making that report if you are interested or the family you are staying with can also help.
We want to help and support in any way we can, so if you would like assistance reporting or discussing other possible options, please either call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello I’m a 16 year old girl turning 17 in June and I one night decided to sneak out and when I was coming back home I got caught and my mom kicked me out this was about a month ago now I’ve been living with my bf since recently I’ve asked for my social and birth certificate and she said no and how she don’t have to give it which I’m pretty sure is true but she also said she should call the cops and ruin his life and say I’m a runaway and how he’s he has a runaway in his house which I’m not I didn’t wanna have to leave and I was wonder if she can say I’m a runaway I have proof of her telling me to leave and saying if I come back she’s gonna call the cops on me too P.S my bf is 18 turning 19 in July I like in Kansas so I’m pretty sure we is of legal age to date Ik I can legally give consent to date him I just really wanna know if she can ruin his life if she calls the cops bcs last thing I want for my bf to have sum like that on his clean record

[ccsmod10]

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 stuck. 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. To minimize the risk of your boyfriend and/or his parents potentially getting in trouble, you may want to call your local police non-emergency line and explain your situation to get their advice, also mention the proof that you were told to leave home by your mother. You could also call anonymously / ask for information without giving your full name or situation for general information/guidance.

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]

My mother, who recently kicked me out a week ago after beating me in the head and upper body with a belt, told me to come back. I told her no, but I was safe. Can I get in legal trouble for this? I just want to feel safe. I'm 15

[ccsmod11]

(If you are in danger for any reason, please call the police or go to your local emergency room.)

Hi there,
Thanks so much for reaching out to us about this. We are so sorry to hear that your mom is treating you like she is and we want you to know you do NOT deserve to be physically beaten or kicked out of the house. We're on your side as you try to navigate this difficult and scary situation.

First of all we want to let you know that what you're experiencing sounds a lot like physical abuse, and you have the right to report it if you want. We aren't experts on this but we'll share what we know about this process. A report would be completely confidential and no one would know who filed it except you and the person who filed. After you file a report, an investigation would be launched where CPS would use evidence provided (pictures of injuries, etc) and interviews to determine if it is safe for you to remain in the home. If it is safe, they will provide resources to help you and your mom such as family counselors or caseworkers. If not, they will look into outside placement such as staying with other safe relatives.

If you're interested in learning more about this process our friends over at ChildHelp (www.childhelp.org) is a great resource, or we would be happy to talk you through things as well and start a report. Again, this is completely your decision.

Since we aren't legal experts, we can't tell you exactly what to do in your situation in regards to being asked to come back after being kicked out. Since you're a minor, your mom can still choose to file a runaway report to have the police bring you home. If this is the case, it helps to have proof she kicked you out such as a text message or note from her. You might also call the police to as how they might handle this situation without giving away any identifying information.

You can't get in any legal trouble for running away, but if your mom decides to file you as a runaway, any person over the age of 18 you are staying with (such as a friend's parents) could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a criminal charge. The way to help get rid of this possibility is to have the people you are staying with call the police or CPS and explain your situation and that you are escaping an abusive situation. Just so you know, this will launch a CPS investigation.

We hear you that you just want to be safe. We want you to be safe too. If you ever need, we have a database of trusted youth shelters around the country and we would be happy to help you find one close to home. Additionally if you just need to talk things through more in depth or get some more resource referrals, we are happy to help as well.

We would love to hear more about your story and give you more personalized guidance. The NRS is here 24/7 via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929). We are completely confidential and have compassionate people on staff who would love to help you out. We hope to hear from you soon!
Good luck!
NRS

[Guest]

My boyfriend lives in California and recently got threatened with being kicked out and has been kicked out but let back into the home in the past if he were to runaway would there be any legal consequences since his parent is trying to kick him out anyways?

[ccsmod11]

(If you are in danger for any reason, please call the police or go to your local emergency room.)


Hi there,
Thanks so much for reaching out to us. We are so sorry to hear that your boyfriend is being kicked out, however we are proud of you for reaching out on his behalf. We'll do our best to answer your question, however it's pretty tricky since there are so many unknowns about your situation.

So technically even if he does runaway after getting kicked out his parents could still choose to file a runaway report with the police, which just means the police will find him and bring him home. There are no consequences for him legally and running away isn't illegal, but he will have to face any consequences from his parents. However anyone he is staying with over age 18 may be liable for harboring a runaway charges, which are tried in criminal court.

However, your friend is running away as a result of getting kicked out. If whoever he stays with contacts police within 24 hours of him getting there, this can help to avoid any charges. Additionally if he has any proof of getting kicked out (a text, note, etc) he can show this to the police if they attempt to bring him home, however we aren't sure exactly how they might react.


The best way to know for sure how the police will handle this situation is to contact your local non-emergency police line and explain the situation without giving away personal details. They can tell you the best course of action to take in this situation.

We would love to know more about your story and give you more personalized and confidential help. The NRS is here 24/7 via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We hope to hear from you soon!
Good luck!
NRS

[Guest]

hey im 17yr in north port fl my mama was treating me bad and kick me out 3 times but now she had got mad at me for talking to this boy after she told me not to communicate with him and if she was to catch me talking to him i got to get out of her house because im putting her in my siblings life in danger because im talkin to him so i just left because for some reason every since i have been talking to him she jus don't like him and because of what she said and me and the boy was still talking so i had no choice or i was gonna get kicked out and not have anything so i left and when i had left she went to calling the police and his mama saying she was going to tell my dark secret she was basically disrespecting me and calling me out my name and told me get the ******** out her house if i still talk to him so i did and now she tryna make herself look like a good parent when she been doing me wrong i just wanna finish school and get a job but not at her house and now i cant do anything because she called and put me as a runaway i just wish this can be different

[ccsmod11]

(If you are in danger for any reason, please call the police or go to your local emergency room).

Hey, thanks for reaching out to us. It sounds like there's a lot going on with your family dynamics right now, and you feel like you have to choose between your family and your boyfriend. That's a lot for anyone to deal with, especially a young person like you.

It sounds like your mom has you currently listed as a runaway. Just so you know, even if the police find you and bring you home you won't get in any trouble with the law as running away isn't a crime. Additionally since you're 17 in some areas the police may not choose to pursue your case. The best way to get more information is to contact your local non-emergency police and explain your situation without giving away personal details.

If you need help talking through things with your mom and you want someone else on your side, we offer a conference call service to help you make meaningful change at home. Please contact us for more information on this.

We'd love to hear more about your story and give you more personalized guidance. The NRS is here 24/7 via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

We hope to hear from you soon!

Good luck,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm from California I came to visit a friend he left me stranded here in olympia washington I' need help getting back no money

[ccsmod7]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline where we are here to listen and help as best as we can. It sounds like you may be interested in a service that we offer called the Home Free Program that provides free bus tickets to help qualifying runaway and homeless youth reunite with their families. The first step in utilizing the service is to have the youth call in to 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) themselves to inquire. We are only able to begin the process of getting a Home Free ticket when the youth calls us on the phone. From there we can explore this option and provide more information on the process.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Good luck,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm grown I live with my mom she verbally abusive and toxic and keep threatening to kick me out and I don't feel love or wanted I need a way out I don't have anything

[ccsmod3]

Hi thank you for reaching out. It sounds like mom is toxic and has been verbally abusing you which you never deserve. It also sounds really stressful that she keeps threatening to kick you out, you deserve better than this. You mention that you are grown, if you are over 18 which is the general age of majority, you can legally leave when you want. If it’s possible, an option is to talk with mom about why she is wanting to kick you out and see if you both can work through that. Otherwise, reaching out to friends or other family who might be able to help or allow you to stay with them. We can always help and support as best as we can, either by talking this through more with you or helping you come up with some options. If this interests you, please either call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

So I’m the mom. My daughter snuck out again after I warned her if I caught her again she was going to get kicked out. Well I guess she didn’t believe me or didn’t care. So I did. I found out a 20 year old sent her an Uber to pick her up that night. She’s only 16. She’s disrespectful and her step dad and I feel like we much walk on egg shells due to her attitude. Mind you my 7 yr old is seeing all these things happening. She has everything she needs and much more. So she ends up going to her dads house. How can I get her back because she keeps on missing school under his care?

[ccsmod14]

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 15 in Iowa and my mom kicked me out and now is telling me to come back and calling me a runaway after she kicked me out. Am i a runaway? she said she’s going to call the police and i’m going to get in trouble for not coming back when she initially kicked me out first. she also is threatening to get my friends and their parents in trouble when there parents don’t know anything and again she kicked me out, she then told me to go to a youth center but then again said she is going to call the police and she wouldent drop charges even if i didn’t come home even though she told me i didn’t have to.

[ccsmod11]

(If you are in danger for any reason, please call the police or go to your local emergency room.)

Hi there,
Thank you so much for reaching out to us. We are so sorry to hear that your mom kicked you out. That is neglect and it isn't right. It's also terrible that she's threatening to call the police. We are here to listen and to help you out as much as we possibly can.

So to answer your question, unfortunately unless you have proof your mom kicked you out like a text, email, or note, the police would still consider you a runaway if she files a report. Additionally anyone you stay with over age 18 COULD be charged with harboring a runaway which is a criminal charge. This is uncommon and varies by state and situation, so it's worth it to check on this with your local non-emergency police.

What you might consider doing to protect yourself is to visit a youth shelter or call the police and explain your situation. From there, they can help you figure out the next steps to help keep you safe and figure out the right option for you. Here at NRS we can help you find and connect with these resources to get the support you need and to be on your side while you navigate this tricky situation.

We would encourage you to reach out to us 24/7 via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) to talk to a real person to get more personalized guidance and help on what to do next and how to protect yourself. We hope to hear from you soon!
Stay safe,
-NRS Crisis Team