can i get in trouble for helping a runaway

[Unregistered]

My best friends mom forced her to move in with her dad. Its a really long story so i won't go that far into it but she is a very outgoing social girl with lots of friends and living with her dad she's forced to be in online school because they move every 5 weeks due to his job so she is stuck in a house with her and her dad and his girlfriend she is miserable and talks to me about killing herself all the time. I want to try to help her all she wants to do is come home and be around her friends and family. She already has a very close family friend who said that she will get custody of her but she wants to run away now to get away from them because there is also abuse going on. would i get in trouble if i drove to get her? i know its illegal to take a minor over state lines (I'm 18 she's 15) but how far would they look into it? because we have a really good plan set up and if they did find out its me what would happen to me? if i dont go get her the only other option is for me to buy her a bus ticket or to ride with another friend who is 16 to go get her.

[ccsmod2]

re: can I get in trouble for helping a runaway

Hi,

Thank you for contacting us. You seem to care a lot about your best friend and her well being. She is very lucky to have a friend like you who can support her. Unfortunately we are not legal experts so we don't know exactly what can happen if you help her. In a lot of places, you can get into trouble for harboring a runaway. There may also be legal consequences for taking a minor across state lines. The only way to know for sure what would/could happen is to contact the non emergency police nearby where this would be happening and ask them what their policies are. We would also recommend reaching out to Child Help USA since there is abuse going on, they may be able to give you other options on what you all could do. Their number is 1-800-422-4453.

Best of luck to you,
NRS