runaway laws in california

[Guest]

I am fourteen years old and plan to leave my home and stay with my boyfriend and his parents. We will try first of all, to try to patch things up, try to keep running away as a last resort so I may go to highschool.

I would like to know what punishment can be recieved for harboring a runaway, and the extent of a search for a run away. how long to they look, how persistantly and could they force a search on my boyfriend's parent's residence.

I read somewhere that running away isn't exactly illegal but I would like to get more information. please share with me what you can.

[ccsmod2]

Re: runaway laws in california

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Switchboard during this difficult time. While I can’t answer your questions specifically, I can give you some general ideas and hopefully help you find some resources that may be able to give you definite answers.

Generally speaking, if your boyfriend’s parents let you stay there, they can be charged for harboring a runaway. Since we aren’t legally trained here, I cannot tell you how the local police handle runaway youth or what the specific charges may be for harboring a runaway. You may be able to anonymously call them and ask them these questions. They would be able to give you definite answers on what they will and won’t do.

Running away isn’t illegal; it’s considered a status offense. A status offense is something you can’t do because you’re a minor. A few other examples of status offenses are truancy and curfew. Now, if you were to do something that is illegal while on the run (stealing a car, breaking and entering), that’s a different story. It is possible that you will be charged for those crimes if you were to commit them.

Do you feel comfortable or safe talking to someone at your school? They may also be able to provide you with some definite answers and may also be able to help you locate some additional assistance.

You can also call us at anytime for assistance with finding legal aid or some other resources; we can also talk about what’s going on and discuss what other options you may have available. We are available at 1-800-RUNAWAY 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are completely confidential and anonymous. We look forward to hearing from you and wish you the best of luck!

~NRS

[Guest]

Re: runaway laws in california

do you know if i can stay at my boyfriends place without hiding, and be able to go to school? im so confused. so fustrated. i dont want to give up my academic future to runaway, but if it becomes a last resort its what I'll do.

thank you for replying........

[ccsmod1]

Re: runaway laws in california

Thanks for writing back. It’s great that you’re trying to get as much information as possible before making any decisions.

We’re not entirely sure what you meant by “can I stay ay my boyfriends place without hiding”. We assume you mean is there a legal way for you to stay there. If that’s what you meant, to our knowledge, the only legal way for you to stay someone besides your parent’s house is to get their permission to stay elsewhere.

When it comes to running away and going to school, it can be a little tricky. There is a law called the “McKinney Vento Act” that states that all youth have the right to go to school. It was made mostly for homeless families, but does have a stipulation about “unaccompanied” minors (aka runaways). Here’s a link to how the act applies to runaways: http://www.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/youth.pdf. However, one thing that’s important to point out is that it states that if the school has a “runaway notification policy” they do have to also follow that. Meaning, you may be able to go to school, but they may also have to notify your parents that you’re there.

Unfortunately, as you’re probably finding out, if you do runaway there are several legal obstacles to staying with others and going to school. The runaway report that parents can file when a youth leaves, doesn’t generally come off until the youth turns the age of majority (18 in most states) or the parents remove it. While the police may not continue to actively search for a runaway, sometimes never actively searching, that report would be searchable by any law enforcement agency until it’s removed.

If you would like to attempt to get specific legal answers, here's an agency in California that may be able to assist. It's called Legal Services for Children #1-888-292-4252. Since we don't have a legal background we only know the general laws and procedures when it comes to runaways.

We hope that some of this information helps you to figure out what’s the best step for you to take. It’s great that you want to work things out before leaving. If you would like to talk more in depth about any of this, you’re welcome to call our hotline anytime. Someone is always here.

[invisibleash32]

Runaway Laws In California.

I'm almost 17 years old and am on the verge of running away. It's my last resort because trying to fix the problems at home don't work and it makes everything alot worse. I have a place to stay that provides me with food, shelter, clothes expenses, money, and they live right across the street from a high school which i need one more year of. I do not want them to get in trouble for harboring a runaway or anything but my parents wont let me move out, even when i try to hold a mature convorsation, they just scream and start a big fight. They team up and yell at me for things i don't even do. I've never done drugs, never had alcohol, never had anger issues. But i'm treated worse than a juvenile delinquent. I would like to know some information on the harboring and what would happen to me if the police found me after being reported as a runaway. Thank you.

[ccsmod6]

RE: runaway laws in california

Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Switchboard. We are sorry to hear about the way things have been for you at home. It sounds like you try to do your best but it never seems to be good enough for your parents. It seems that you have tried to speak with your parents to try and come to a resolution on several occasions but they are unwilling to cooperate. It's unfortunate that you have to experience those type of things because no one deserves to live in a household where they feel unwanted or over looked.

Deciding if you should run or not can be a difficult decision! Running away is not illegal and is considered, in general, a status offense. Parents are allowed to file runaway reports which are entered in a national Police database. Generally speaking, when a Youth come into contact with Police, the Youth is returned home without facing any criminal charges. Runaway reports are generally removed from the national law enforcement database upon the minor reaching his or her 18th birthday.

Harboring a runaway is a possible charge that those could face for abiding or harboring you. The likeliness of the charges been filed and the penalties will vary among states. Speaking with a legal aid society in your state or contacting your local nonemergency line for your police may be good ways to find the most reliable information about harboring a runaway.

We hope the information provided helps. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us. We wish you the best of luck. Remember out hotline is confidential, anonymous, toll-free, available 24 hours 7 days, and can be reached at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

~NRS

[Unregistered]

I am four months away from being eighteen. ive been trying to get emancipated for over three years now and by now i've just givnen up on it. i thought i could tough out living in the home that i live in for four more months but i can't. im three months pregnant and life at home is full of tension and pressure. it's now getting scary to live with my adoptive father. i know that whom ever i live with could be charged with harboring but my friend told me the police cannot do anything to me since im so close to being eighteen. is this true?

[ccsmod5]

RE: runaway laws in california

Hey,

Sounds like things are still tough at home for you and you're gonna take your chances with the law. Hoenstly, we're not sure what the police can do. Some precincts follow the law all the way through til someone is 18 and other don't press it too much. You'd be taking your chances with this one. Are you in or near a city that is big enough with housing services? Most big cities have shelters for youth (pregnant or otherwise) and can sometimes house people that are close to 18 and going through tough relationships.

In what city and state do you live? We may be able to find something in your area.

If you'd like to explore this a bit more outside of the bulletin boards you are welcome to call our crisis hotline (anonymous and confidential) at 1800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with someone right away on our live chat service every day from 430pm-1130pm.

Best of luck,

[Unregistered]

I am 16 years old.I will be 17 years old in july. having many problems at home with my mother & oldest brother. Lots of money issues involved too as well. I plan to leave once i turn 17. I know thats not the legal age but i really cant put up with the stress. My plan was to leave california & move to texas with a close family member. Im not sure if my mother would report me as a runaway because i am recieving social security income. I want to get off of it & make my own money because i dont see any of it. My mother does not want me to work so i have no way of recieving money & getting things i need. I dont know what to do & need some legal advise.

[ccsmod5]

RE: runaway laws in california

Hey,

Thanks for reaching out to us. Sounds like things are very difficult and like you're determined to become independent sooner than later.

When you're trying to take care of yourself because others aren't, sometimes it's rough. The hard part is that you're a minor until you're 18 and that means that you might not have the ability to do the following (to address your questions and concerns):

-switching or removing yourself from social security benefits
-getting a job without parent permission (or while you're listed as a runaway with the police)
-living with another family as a runaway

However, if you think your mom wouldn't list you as a runaway, do you think she'd let you live somewhere else? Would she be willing to give up custody to the other family you're wanting to go to? That might be the easiest way to move out and live there legally.

Also, we're not legal advisors but the only way for you to live somewhere else is for your mother to give you permission or to get emaicpated through the state of California but that process can sometimes take about a year. If you'd like to explore this, it might be helpful to speak with legal advisors. Here is a national agency that might be helpful:

Justice for Children
1800-733-0059

Your situation seems to be very complicated so it might be helpful to explore this over a phone call. If you're willing and able to call us to work on this together, please call us 24 hours a day at 1800-RUNAWAY. We can talk about what other options are available to you.

Best of luck,

[Unregistered]

confused

hello, my girlfriend is 17 but wont be 18 until December, she ran away from home because she had suffered physical abuse. As of right now i do not know where she is but i know shes safe. what can my girlfriend and/or i do in this situation? she is very afraid to go home and she does not have any family members within a 100 mile radius. She also have only 3 months left to graduate high school. She was kicked out of her house but then returned home by the police and then was physically, emotionally, and verbally abused only a few hours later. Then she was told to leave again but this time her mother(which is a single) filed her as a run away. She has NOTHING with her. What can we possibly do to get her to a safe home and allow her to still attend school without going home?

[ccsmod8]

Re: Confused

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us to tell us what is happening with your girlfriend. Everything you mentioned is valid. What your girlfriend is going through is not fair to her. She certainly do not deserve this sort of mistreatment. We are glad you reached out to find support for her. We are here for the both of you. It sounds like her home situation is not safe.

We are not legal experts. We cannot give legal advice but we can help to explore alternatives or other options that is helpful to her. We are mandated reporters. We can report abuse of minor. Until she turns 18 she is still considered a minor in many states. We can report that is happening to her only if she wants us to do it. We cannot force her to act but we will call with her to the specific agency to report it.

We do not investigate the report. We cannot guarantee what will happen. We will do our part to get the report made and from there it may lead to an investigation. It sounds like the police are aware of what is happening. However, it does not seem like much has been done to help her. This must be very frustrating for everyone.

If your girlfriend does not want to report what is happening to her to can explore other options such as a youth emergency shelter. We have a database with referrals that may help her get away from home but she is going to need consent from her parents to stay there. Some shelters needs consent right away while others may take a couple of days.

We are a confidential and anonymous hotline. We will not report the abuse if she prefer to not do it. We can call around with her to find local resources to help her. It depends solely on what she wants to do. We care for her safety and right now it does not sound like she is completely safe. We hope you can pass our number on to her for her to call us for emotional support and resources. We are here 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Good luck.

-NRS

[Unregistered]

emancipation

what are reasons for me to be able to get emancipated? i am 14 and live in california. i want to run away but in a way where the police are not looking for me. so legally. and the only choice i know is being emancipated. but what reasons would i need? how would i be able to prove the reasons?

[ccsmod3]

Re: runaway laws in california

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Switchboard. It sounds like you are considering leaving and are strongly considering emancipation as an option. We aren’t legal experts, but we do have access to some basic information. We can’t say for certain if you’d be able to get emancipated or not and if we know what part of CA you are in, we might be able to provide some more specific resources.

To our knowledge, in the state of California, there are three ways to become emancipated.
1) get married
2) join the military
3) go to court and have the judge declare you emancipated.

For a judge to declare a minor emancipated, the minor….
o Must be at least fourteen years old.
o Must be living apart from parents with their consent or acquiescence.
o Must be managing finances and have a legal source of income.
o The judge must find that emancipation is in best interest.
o The judge also wants to see that minor is in school or has a GED.

More information can be found here: http://www.lsc-sf.org/problems/emancipation.html

We’d be happy to continue talking to you about your situation. You are welcome to contact us directly either by calling us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through our Live Chat (red button on www.1800runaway.org) from 4:30 to 11:30pm CST. Best of luck to you!

[Unregistered]

California laws on minor runaway and coming back for identity when 18

What is the detailed consequence for a minor that I knew of at age 16 and planning to run away and return to California at age 18 for to check in and get her ID and be out of foster and cps court systems and return to her family?