runaway laws in california

[Guest]

I live with my mom

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are going through some intense stuff and we want to support you. Whether or not you feel like you need to run away is up to you and whether or not you feel safe where you are. We would be happy to help you in whatever way we can. We can provide referrals to mental health resources, shelters, legal advocacy, among other things. We can also just talk you through whatever your situation is and help you figure out what your options are. We aim to empower youths and we prioritize their safety and their well-being. If you are interested in anything that we have to offer, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I live with my grandma from my mom side I want to go live with my dads mom my grandma, I am not happy where I’m at

[ccsmod15]

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]

I am 14 years old and I am not happy where I’m at my moms mom I want to go with my dads mom plz help me with advice

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your legal guardian's permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your mom. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

When the coronavirus hit ... my granddaughter was with us for a visit ... we locked down from the time the order came thru and she has been living with us ... have found out she was being abused by her mother's boyfriend in another state ... it took several months to get her to talk to find out she had run away ... i believe she is in danger from the boyfriend ... i don't know his name because she has not told me because he is the father of her brother and sisters ... what rights does she have and what is the process to help her ?

[ccsmod13]

Hello!

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at NRS. While we are not legal experts, we can speak generally about the legal concerns with a minor leaving home.

It sounds like your granddaughter has been through a lot and she feels safest living with you. If she is still a minor (under the age of 18 in most states), her mother would have control over where she lives. The easiest way to leave home as a minor is with a guardian or parent's consent. From what you shared it sounds like she has been with you for a few months and has not been returned back home. If mom continues to give permission or at least does not take any action to force her home then she can continue to stay with you. Mom does have the option to report her as a runaway to the police at any time. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This basically means your granddaughter's mother can ask police to return her home if she knows where your granddaughter is staying. This would just be something for you and your granddaughter to keep in mind if she wants to continue to live with you.

You did mention that the reason she left home in the first place was because of abuse. She does have the right to report this to police or child protective services should mom try to force her back home. Depending on the type of abuse, there could be a variety of outcomes. Child protective services might not remove your granddaughter from her mother's custody immediately, but it could start a process with that outcome. If you or your granddaughter want to learn more about the reporting process before pursuing this, you can speak with an advocate from the National Child Abuse Hotline. www.childhelp.org.

We hope this information helps. If you or your granddaughter have more questions or concerns you would like to talk about, please do not hesitate to reach out again. We are available for immediate support 24/7 by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or through live chat at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, i am less than a month from turning 15 and i can't stand to be in my mothers toxic house hold, so i was wondering is there anyway i could move to my grandparents house asap without having to take legal action?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at NRS. While we are not legal experts we can speak generally on this. Because your mother is your legal guardian until you turn 18, she is legally responsible for you. Outside of going through child protective services or a court order like emancipation, the other option to live somewhere else is to get your mother's permission to do so. If she gives her consent for you to live with your grandparents instead then you would be able to do that. We understand that having this conversation with parents is very challenging and not always possible. Perhaps another trusted adult, such as your grandparents, can talk with your mom about your needs and you moving in with them.

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.

Stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

im 15 and i live in california. my family is alright but I feel trapped in a sense. i wanna know the consequences for my friend (who’s 17) and me.. we wanted to hangout for a couple days but i know my parents wouldn’t let us so we’re thinking about just getting a hotel and staying there for two days. what consequences would take place. for example, any license restrictions or anything of that sort

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your parents can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned home. This would not affect your or your friend's driver's license status.

It can be really frustrating to feel trapped at home. It could be a good idea to work with a local family counselor or have a conversation mediated by a school counselor/social worker, trusted friend, or family member to help clear the air. If you'd like, you can also call us directly and we can conduct a conference call with your family so you have a safe environment where you can express yourself.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Stay safe,
NRS

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

Hello, I am planning to runaway but I don't want to get anyone in trouble who is housing me. If the adult housing me notifies law enforcement that they are housing me can they still keep me there while not getting in trouble?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at NRS. It sounds like you are faced with a lot and you feel as though running away may be your best option. It seems you want to know more about runaway laws. While we are not legal experts, we can speak generally on this.

18 is usually the age you can leave home without permission. If you leave home as a minor, your parents can report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal and you would not face any legal consequences. However, if you are found the police will likely return you home. Anyone you stay with could be at risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. Runaway and harboring laws can vary by state, county, and even police department. As you mentioned, some states do indicate that contacting the young person's legal guardians or the appropriate authorities--local police or child protective services-- can serve as a protection against harboring charges. However, you would not necessarily be allowed to stay with this person if local law enforcement have been contacted even if you are safe with them. Again, we can only speak generally so we advise any young person with legal questions to consult with their local police department or a legal experts. We are happy to provide legal aid resources if you contact us directly by phone or live chat.

We are available 24/7 if you would like to talk more.

Be safe,
NRS