15 y/o girl and wanting to runaway?

[Unregistered]

Hello everyone,

I'm a 15 year old female that lives in Georgia. I've been planning to runaway since I was real little; I've made it out of the doorway and down the steps, but never too far. I've been homeless before with my mother. We lived in the back of a car for a year and half before I told someone about it and she sent me to live with my father. So I know the ropes and been on this wheel before.

I've made a Pros and Cons list and gathered up as much facts as I can. I have an 17 y/o boyfriend that says he'll go with me. He's got a car and money. I really do love him and want to runaway together. I've searched up destinations and want to run to California to live on the beach. I'm scared a lot and don't want to leave. I don't want to leave everything I've ever known behind. I'm leaving friends and family, but I just cannot take this mediocre lifestyle anymore. The past year has been hell for me and I need to get away and find myself.

When I leave, I will be taking my 9 month old pit bull with me. I've learned to take of her and myself without help. I've learned to cope to being on my own with little to no resources. I'm really debating whether or not I should wait until I'm 16, have my license, and a car or go now. I wanted to come back when I'm 17 so I don't have to live with her anymore and be on my own where I want to live. My boyfriend said he'll be with me every step of the way.

Please help.

[ccsmod2]

re: 15 y/o girl and wanting to runaway?

Hi,

It sounds like you've done a lot of planning and want to run away, but you're scared. That's understandable. We can't exactly tell you what is a good decision for you, so you would need to consider the consequences of your actions and decide that for yourself. 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 you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your 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 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.

Take care,
NRS