wondering

[Guest]

I'll be 18 in a few months and am planning to leave home any day now (for good reason) and I've got a few questions...

1. When I turn 18 will I still have legal implications dangling over my head for being a runaway?
2. If I cross state lines is there less chance of being found?
3. In honestly will I be found easily if I take a greyhound bus with my name on the ticket?
4. If I'm found will I be dragged home?
5. How serius are the consequences for someone if they let me stay with them?
6. When I turn 18 will the said person harboring me still be in trouble?

Thank you.

[ccsmod3]

Re: wondering

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Switchboard. It sounds like you’re pretty serious about leaving and have come up with a list of questions to think about before doing so. You state that you have a good reason for leaving and if you would like to talk to us further you are welcome to do so. We can be reached 24/7 at our anonymous and confidential hotline by calling toll-free at 1-800-RUNAWAY. Since we are not legal experts, the answers we have provided are just in a general sense and you may have to call your local police department for more specific answers.

1. Running away isn’t generally illegal, just a status offense meaning you cannot do so because you are a minor. If you are from a state where 18 is the age of majority, then you shouldn’t have legal implications for running away once you reach that age. However, if your parent(s)/ guardian(s) have filed a runaway or missing report, they might have to call the police for it to become officially inactive.

2. If there is an active runaway or missing report on you, it usually goes into the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) which is a national database. If this is the case, then police could look you up regardless of whether you decide to cross state lines. Crossing state lines with someone who is not a minor can oftentimes have legal ramifications for that person as well.

3. In regards to Greyhound, it may depend on where you are leaving from and whether you are paying with cash or with a debit card. Also, do you think your parent(s)/guardian(s) will think to look for you/contact Greyhound?

4. If you happened to be found, usually the police will just send you back home. Exceptions to this might be if you are too far for someone to pick you up right away, if you have committed some other crime, or if there is abuse at home and you have filed an abuse report through Child Protective Services (CPS). In these cases, sometimes police send runaway youth to shelters or detention centers or get CPS involved.

5. Consequences for harboring a runaway can vary depending on the area and can sometimes be different for relatives verses non-relatives. Do you think your parent(s)/guardian(s) would press charges on the person where you stay?

6. For information on whether that person will get in trouble once you turn 18, you will probably have to contact your local police department.
If your need further assistance, remember you can always contact your local police department (or have someone else call for you if you’d feel more comfortable.) We are not in a position to tell you whether to runaway or not, but we would be glad to talk to you about possible options should you decide to call us.

Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

Re: wondering

Thank You very much for the reply. Your organization seems to be a valuable rescource and I commend you. Anyways, ummmm one question. As to the greyhound ticket things, in terms of being safe from my parents tracking me...how would you recommend buying the ticket?

[ccsmod5]

Re: wondering

Thank you for the kind words.

Buying a ticket without being completely 'untraceable' is tough. We don't really know of a good way to do what you are looking to do but it seems like they keep track of information of all purchasers and riders of the Greyhound bus lines.

-NRS