16 yr old in Georgia

[Unregistered]

I'm 16 and i live in georgia. and my significant other is 18 They live in Florida and want me to run away from home to live with them in Florida. If I Cross the state line, can police still find me down there and force me to come back to georgia? Can cops get a subpoena to get into my deleted facebook messages? Would cops interview or interrogate any of my friends or family to find out where I am? If cops found out my location could they search the house to find me? In Florida, I will be taken care of and will be happy with my significant other that I've been with for a year . I get treated poorly at home. I've tried killing myself 9 times, they know about a few of my attempts and don't care to help me or treat me better. They know that I've struggled with self harm. That I currently suffer from severe depression and anxiety. They brush it off. I continue to threaten to kill myself and my parent tells me to do it. To kill myself. I've had a knife pulled on me by one of my parents. I don't want to be taken to a foster home or a shelter. I want my freedom, and I want to be somewhere where I'll be treated with respect. But they wont allow me to become emancipated. Where I'm going I'll have food, shelter, clothes, a warm bed, a partner who will love me unconditionally, and a family who will love me too. I've already ran away once when I was 12. If im caught, Could I be taken to ydc since this would be my 2nd time running away? How long do you figure the cops will look for me before giving up?
A fast reply would be much appreciated.

[ccsmod0]

Re: 16 yr old in Georgia

First of all thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline - we're here to listen and to let you know that you're not going through this alone. We also want you to know that if you ever feel like your safety is in danger you have the right to call 911. No one should feel like their life is not being valued or supported.
Although we are not experts on the issue of suicide and if this is something that you would like to focus on then we can certainly provide you the number for the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-TALK they may be able to help you more because this is their area of expertise. This is concerning to us because you mentioned that you have attempted suicide several times. They can help direct you towards support and or services for your needs In the meantime, we hope that you can give us a call directly to get some emotional support
It makes sense of course that you would be worried about the legal ramifications of running away to be with your significant other in Florida. We are not legal experts and can only speak to the general situations you face, but you are always welcome to call in to our safeline at 1-800-786-2929 to talk with us live about your situation as well.
One course of action that could always make sense to call in anonymously to the non-emergency number of the local police district to see what their policy is on runaways. Talking to your home local police district anonymously could let you know how much investigation is typical to the department (subpoenas, or interrogations). Also, talking to the district that your significant other lives in in Florida would be helpful as you could likely find out what their typical course of action is in cases of runaways taken into custody - whether they hold runaways, return runaways to their parents, or to take them to YDC. However, much of what happens may depend on your parents. If you know they will file a runaway report in case you do leave home, then your significant other and their family could be charged with harboring a runaway. Of course, it depends on the situation, so this could just be good to consider. Did your parents file a report when you ran away the first time? That could help you know what they'll do and what you might need to consider.
It sounds like there is still much to discuss. If you don’t mind you can give us a call and we can talk about everything thoroughly. 1-800-RUNAWAY

[Unregistered]

No they didn't file it, but police did get come out to look for me . When I ran away the first time, I didn't really think it through. But I still didn't get caught. I chose to come home . But now that I'm older and wiser and have done my research, I think I can runaway without ever being found. I'm deactivating my facebook, factory reseting my phone and leaving it behind. I'm going to tell my parents I'm staying with my friend for a few days and within that time is when I'm leaving.

[ccsmod6]

Re:

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 sounds like you’ve run before and feel that running is your only option again. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon. Our contact information is found below.

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If you’re feeling unsafe and need a safe place to go and talk to someone, you may wish to visit The National Safeplace website (www.nationalsafeplace.org). This organization provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

In Georgia, if a 16 year old leaves home and stays with responsible adults, can he be forced to go back home? Can the responsible adults be charged with crimes for letting him love with them?

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS for help.

In a runaway situation, youth cannot be arrested. The only time we see people getting in trouble with the law in a runaway situation, is when adults let runaway’s stay with them, they’re charged with ‘Harboring a Runaway’. We are not legal experts, so we always offer to call out to local police with youth to find out about their protocols. If your friend needs a runaway shelter, please tell her to reach out to us, so we can help her!

Our safeline is open 24/7 and we also have a chatting service via our website!

Be well, NRS

[Guest]

Hi there. I’m 16 and I live in Georgia. My parent doesn’t want me to move out, so emancipation is off my list. I cannot afford an attorney.

I am able to provide for myself, I have a stable job. I wanted to know if there is any legal way for my parent to force me to live with them. I can provide for myself, so I thought that was reason enough. Can my parent force me to stay with them or make the cops look for me?

I was also curious as to if 16 year olds are allowed to rent apartments. I looked everywhere online, but I couldn’t find answers. I hope you can help me. Thank you in advance.

[ccsmod4]

Reply:Hi there. I’m 16 and I live in Georgia.


Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

In most states 18 years old is the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. A person under the age of 18 leaving home without permission, a parent/guardian 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.

Generally speaking, a minor that encounters a police officer while reported as a runaway, may likely be detained until they can be returned home. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows a runaway to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. A good way to find out the laws in your area is to call the non-emergency number of your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.
We are not legal experts and can only offer general information about entering in to legal contracts as a minor. In most states a minor cannot enter into a contract such as a lease agreement such as a lease etc. We hope this information is helpful.

NRS is here to listen and here to help.
If you would like to speak more about your situation please contact us.
To contact NRS call 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or live chat with us at www.1800Runaway.org

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 15 I’m thinking about running away from home , I’m in a very bad environment and I need out . Can I get in legal trouble for running away ? And can the people I’m in a stay w get in trouble ? I live in Georgia

[ccsmod9]

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. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, 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.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

my friend is 16 and she’s in a household that is forcing her to stop talking to her significant other because he’s black she’s being cursed at and she’s miserable we live in the state of georgia what would consequences be if she did leave home without her mother knowing. if she was going to stay at a friends house until she figured things out ?

[ccsmod7]

Hi there!

It looks like you might have contacted NRS today through another means (for example, live chat, email or bulletin) for the same issue. Thank you so much for reaching out so we can have a conversation. You seem like an amazing friend. NRS understands it takes courage to reach out for help; therefore, we would like to minimize the need for you to repeat your situation and avoid offering you duplicate services. Please know we are always here if you or your friend have any other questions, need support, or if you need resources.

Best of luck,

NRS

[Guest]

Hey I’m 17 and I’m thinking about running away. And staying with my boyfriend. Would he get in trouble???

[ccsmod15]

Hi, thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. It sounds like you are thinking of running away but have some questions about what is would mean legally, especially for your boyfriend. We want to help you and answer your questions the best way we can, but because we can’t talk back and forth with you through the forum, we don’t have enough information to answer.
We hope that you will reach out to us either by phone at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY), or with our live chat service through www.1800runaway.org This way we can better understand your situation and help you identify the options that you have and to try to answer your questions.
We are here for you 24/7 to listen and to help. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 14 and im trying to get out of the home but because im not 16 or older i cant do anything. My friend and I are working up a case against her for child abuse and possibly neglect. I haven't looked up the second one all to much, however for the abuse case we have pictures of bruises and my brother had it happen to him, along with 3 witnesses of it happening including my brother. We´re trying to get me to her mom´s house here or her dad house in North Carolina, however theres nothing anyone can do till im sixteen that we know of. is it possible to get out sooner without parent permission? My birth father isnt an option, and my grandmother is in an old people resort so she isnt an option. the only other option would be my brother because hes 18 - he left the house at 16 and officially moved out at 17. would this be enough to go possibly leave sonner than 16?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. From what you shared, you have been doing your best to do research and find a way for you to safely live somewhere else. Your hard work and resourcefulness is really admirable.

You mentioned that there is abuse at home and you want to report it. You are really brave for pursuing this to better your situation. Taking pictures and having witnesses was very smart of you and a good idea. If you would like help reporting and support with the process, you can contact the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or go to www.childhelphotline.org.

From what you shared, it sounds like the police where you live do not consider individuals who are 16 and older to be runaways. You can always double check this by calling the non-emergency number for the local police department to ask anonymously. Generally speaking, if you left without your parent or guardian's permission while still considered a minor, they can report you as a runaway. You would not be arrested, but the police would likely return you home.

We are here 24/7 to be a support for you while you navigate this challenging time. You can reach us by phone or use our live chat services anytime if you would like support deciding on your next steps.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello I know a child who is 16 and wants to leave home with her custodial parent(mom) wants to know if she takes this action to live with her noncustodial parent (dad) will she be forced to go back with her mother ...
GEORGIA is the state I need answers for please and thank you. She's trying to leave now but the dad doesnt want to have that counted against him

[ccsmod3]

Thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you want to know that the consequences are if a youth was to runaway and they are under 18. 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 the youth is under 18 and leaves the home without permission, the parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once the youth is 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 the youth encounters 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 you as a youth in crisis/runaway but again, police procedures related to offering those services can be different based on the 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 the 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.

[Guest]

Hello, Im a 16 year old in Georgia who no longer feels safe at home and want to run away and live with my best friend. I tried researching the topic since Im 16, but Im finding mixed results. Can anyone help me out?

[ccsmod13]

Hello,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a post on our bulletin board! While we are not legal experts by any means, we can share our knowledge of runaway laws for minors.

Generally speaking, your parents are your legal guardians until you turn 18, so they can decide where you live. If you do choose to leave without permission, your parents can report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means that if your parents know where you are staying then they can have the police return you home.

The easiest way to leave home as a minor is with your parents’ permission. In this case, they would be allowing you to live somewhere else where you are safe and being cared for. A helpful step is to start reaching out to friends and family members you might be able to stay with. Sometimes having an adult advocate on your side can make communicating your needs more effective to your parents. Perhaps an adult family member, a friend's parent or a counselor at school can talk to your parents with you about your experience at home and the possibility of you leaving.

You mentioned that you want to leave due to not feeling safe. This is a tough spot to be in, but reaching out for more information was a really great first step. You deserve to be treated in a way that makes you feel safe and supported. If you are experiencing any form of abuse a helpful resource might be Child Help. Child Help is an organization that advocates for young people in abusive and unhealthy situations. You can contact them at 1-800-422-4453 or go to childhelphotline.org to talk more about strategies for coping with abuse and having a trusted adult intervene.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

We wish you the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 16 and I'm going to NYC with my grandmother I told I don't want to go back home

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us here at NRS. It sounds like you are going to visit your grandmother and you are trying to find a way to avoid coming back home to your parents/guardians. While we are not legal experts, we can speak generally on this.

Your parents or your current legal guardians are responsible for you until you turn 18 which means they can decide where you live. The easiest way to live somewhere else would be with their permission. We understand this might be challenging as parents are not always easy to talk to about your needs. Sometimes having an adult advocate for you can make having this conversation easier. Perhaps your grandmother or another adult your trust can help you talk with your parents and convince them to let you stay. There are a couple of other ways to live somewhere else, but they would likely require having to go back home at least temporarily. If your safety at home is a concern, you can make a report to child protective services. While this would not mean you would be placed in your grandmother's custody immediately, it could start a process where this might be an outcome. The final way would be to go through an emancipation process which would make you a legal adult with the legal freedom to choose where you live. Now, this can be a difficult and lengthy process. It generally requires that you show a judge you can live independently and financially provide for yourself.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

We wish you the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 16 and I’m about to be 17 in 5 months and my significant other is 18 and I’m trying to leave my house and me and my significant other are planning to rent a house and I have a stable job and so does he can my significant other get arrested?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. While we are not legal experts, we do have a great deal of experience working with runaways and youths in crisis. As far as we understand it, you are still a minor and your guardians still have the right to determine where you live. If you leave home without their consent, they can call the police and file a runaway report. It is not illegal to run away and you will NOT be arrested or charged for it. However, a runaway report allows the police to notify your guardians and return you back home if they encounter or find you. Additionally, if someone is sheltering you while there is a runaway report out on you, your guardians have the option of trying to press charges against that person for what is called “harboring a runaway”. Again, we are not legal experts, but this is typically considered a misdemeanor offense. It can be difficult to pursue those kinds of charges, but they do present a very real risk.

If you want to talk more about what is going on and what options you have, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS