Do police look for a 17 yo runaway in washington?

[Guest]

Hi my daughter is 17 and keeps running away. She has a good life at home. She is not abused and for sure always gets what she needs and most of the time, what she wants. Life is not perfect, of course, but when we are not in agreement, she'll just choose to leave. Take all her stuff and just leave while I'm at work. I don't know what to do. She won't answer her phone. Her friends lie for her. She lies to her friends parents about me. Help point me in the right direction please.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It sounds like you love your daughter a lot and care about her safety and well-being, this must be a stressful and emotionally taxing situation for you. If your daughter ever leaves home you can contact your local police to file a runaway report, which is like a missing person report. Runaway reports can be filed at any time (no matter how long ago she ran away). Running away is considered a status offense, meaning it's not illegal but something that cannot be done by a minor. If the authorities locate your daughter she will most likely be returned home to you.

It can be really hard to take on situations like this and we want you to know that you aren't alone. If you ever want to reach out for additional support from other parents who can provide an empathetic ear you can always check out Team HOPE (Help Offering Parents Empowerment) by calling 866-305-4673 or by going to missingkids.org/teamhope

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.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I need help in a situation I’m going through. I wanted to find out if I would get in trouble if I just want to report a runaway now after three days. He is only 15 and I just wanted to give him space to think about his actions but apparently he hasn’t came back and now I’m worried.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. We are not legal experts but we do have some general information on the laws. From our understanding you would not get in any trouble for reporting a runaway. If you do report them after three days you may be questioned why you waited and you can tell law enforcement what you have told us. Also you can contact The Center For Missing and Exploited Children at: 1800-843-5678.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

I turn 18 in about 40 days,my neighbors said I could stay with them as my mother emotionally abused me ,if I stay with them will they get in trouble,I live in WA

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for taking the time to write us here at NRS. It can certainly be stressful at home when the adults in the household are not supportive. Emotional abuse does get overwhelming and it can be tough to cope with on your own. Abuse of any kind is never okay and not your fault. Doing your own research while thinking about the decision to leave was really responsible.


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. There is a charge called harboring a runaway that could affect the people you stay with, but from what we know it is not common and not used to punish someone who is keeping a young person safe. Some police departments do get more lenient with someone who is so close to 18 and will not even take a runaway report. You can call your local police department's non-emergency number to ask about their protocol.

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.

[Guest]

I really want to get out of the house because I am have been experiencing emotional abuse and neglect. I am 17 years old and I live in Washington State. I wanted to know if the people I stay with can get in trouble with the law if I stay with them. My parents are so focused on not letting me leave they would call the cops if I was a minute over curfew. I do not have a job and I am on the path to graduate with a highschool diploma. I have good grades in highschool but I hate my house. I want to leave and live with my boyfriend. I read u should try to get a recording of my parents saying to get out of the house so police can't force me to go back. I don't know if it's true but I am willing to try it. How do I leave and cops not get who I am staying with in trouble and take me home.

[ccsmod3]

Hello and thanks for reaching out on our forum!

We are really sorry to hear you have been experiencing emotional abuse and neglect. One resource that may be of help in terms of your experience is Childhelp. Feel free to check them out here: https://www.childhelp.org/. No one deserves to experience abuse or neglect, regardless of age. You raise some really great questions in regards to leaving home at 17. We are not legal experts; however, our understanding is that 18 is the age of majority (legal adulthood) in most states. Until that point, you may run the risk of your parents/legal guardians filing you as a runaway/missing juvenile. You mentioned your parents would call the cops if you were a minute over curfew so it sounds like that is a concern of yours.

You also shared that you get good grades and are on track to graduate high school. In terms of a recording, that might be a better question for legal professionals or police. We would be happy to provide you with contact numbers and could even offer to call out to your local law enforcement or other agencies should you reach out directly via calling 1-800-RUNAWAY or through our Live Chat https://na0messaging.icarol.com/Cons...d=254&cc=en-US. We hope that helps and wish you the best of luck!

-NRS

[Guest]

I'm gonna turn 17 this year in July and I'm planning on running away a few days after my bday. My home situation isn't good, I mean it's not extremely bad, but it's not good either. My parents once told me that if I ran away they wouldn't call the cops and that if that's what I wanted they wouldn't do anything about it. I still wanna go to school, tho and have a normal life, I do not intend to live on the streets, so my question is, could I be sent into foster care? I'm from Washington state btw. Thanks

[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. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
Since you might have parent permission as long as they don’t actually report you as a runaway to police there likely won’t be any action taken. Although they do have a right to change their mind about it later on and request that you come back home. In either scenario you won’t be put into foster care for running away you would likely just be returned home.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail 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.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 16 years old and I live in ---------- I have been getting sexual abused by my step dad for a long time and I’m having a lot of anxiety and nightmares from it when I was little my mom and dad were into drugs and drinking a lot so I got taken away from them and my grandpa adopted me my grandfather is abusive and worse then anyone in my family his wife is from -------- and she does things the way she was raised she would leave bruises on me and hurt me cuss me out and even got out of a child abuse case because she had a friend who was a lawyer to drop the cases since I was so younge I didn’t know what to do I have a little brother who lives with them but my grandfather had enough and gave me to my real mom without permission of the law I have half siblings over there and I’m scared my step dad is going to abuse them as well I recently moved out to a better inviroment without parent consent and no police have looked for me because they believe I will return home but I can’t I have proof of the abuse and that he did it to my sister as well she’s 18 now she got kicked out by my mom because my mom told her she was supposed to be an abortion and she told her she didn’t want her so she had to move but legally we weren’t hers on our papers it says child neglect I need to get my siblings out of there my step dad has already threatened me because he is in a gang he told me his people will get me and I can’t say anything about what he did to me because he will destroy my life I’m worried about my 8year old little sister my 4 year old brother he need to be caught because he will continue to do it he has many warrants out for his arrest he’s 67 I believe please help

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. It sounds like you have survived and gone through so very much, between the sexual abuse you survived and the abuse by your grandfather and his wife, you are clearly a very strong person, and so very brave. You care about your siblings which shows you are also a warm and loving person, in spite of all the hurt you've survived.
We are glad to hear that you are in a safe environment and we hope that you can stay. You never, ever deserved any of the treatment you endured. None of what you went through is OK at all. Clearly there is concern about your younger siblings in the home where, it sounds like, you were sexually abused by your stepdad.
Because you posted in our public forum and your situation is so specific, we truly hope that you will reach out to us either by our phone hotline at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY), or chat us through this website. Being able to have a conversation with you about all of this will help us help you discover your options and make a plan for your situation, whether that is looking for a legal resource for you or something else that we think of together while talking.
We truly hope that you will reach out to us. We are here 24/7 and are confidential to you. You deserve help, and we will do our best to help you find it.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I was wondering. Im in foster care and I turn 18 in less than a month but I live in a very unstable and abusive group home. I don't feel safe here. I was wondering if my friend could get in trouble if they took me in until I'm 18?

[ccsmod15]

Hi -

Thanks for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We appreciate you reaching out and sharing a bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re in a very tough, stressful situation. It’s great that you are looking for options and resources.

While we are not experts on the law, typically an individual must be at least 18 years old to leave home legally without permission from their legal guardian. If you leave your group home before you turn 18, your legal guardian may file a report on you as a runaway with the police.

If this happens and you stay with your friend, they may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. You would also most likely be returned to your foster home.

For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.

We are here as support to help through this challenging time. If you would like to talk more in detail 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.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Will the cops take me back home if I run away at 17 and a half i live in Washington

[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. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail 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.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I feel like running away but i don’t want to get in trouble, at the same time I want to leave my home and continue my Highschool studies just out of my home for the time being.

[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. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.

While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.

We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by forum to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail 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.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi. My 17 yo son will be 18 in 4 weeks. He ran away from home his morning because I tried to take him back to rehab for drug use. We live in Washington State. Do we need to report him as a runaway? He has a phone with service we pay for and he has promised to let us know he is okay. Are there any legal risks to not reporting him or any legal protections in reporting him. I am specifically worried about him committing crime and his dad and I being liable for it because he is still a minor.

[ccsmod5]

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are here to listen and help as best as we can. It sounds like you are going through a really tough time not having your youth home and being unsure of their safety. He is lucky to have someone that cares so much about them.

You mentioned not knowing if you should report your son as a runaway or not, typically we do recommend you do so. You can further explore this by contacting your local law enforcement to file a runaway report. We are not legal experts here, but typically it is not illegal to run away or leave home without permission. It’s considered a status offense and typically parents are not held responsible for this; still it would be helpful to contact the non-emergency number for your local police to gather as much information as possible. However, if a runaway report is filed, police that encounter a runaway youth will work to return them home when found. Keep in mind though, that the efforts made to search for runaway youth can vary from state to state or even within districts. Often it is up to the parents to advocate for themselves and keep track of the steps taken to find your youth.

If you have a way to communicate with your son either email, text, phone, or social media you can inform them that we are offer confidential 24/7 support. We can try to locate some resources that could be of assistance, wherever they are located, to help keep them safe. If you do not have contact with your child, we also offer a message service where parents can call us to leave a message for their child. If the youth calls in, we can deliver this message. We also take messages from youth to their parents that we deliver. This can be a great option for you to express yourself in a safe, productive, and non-confrontational way. If you choose to utilize our message service, its best to spread the word to anyone you think may be in contact with your child to increase the chances of your message being retrieved.

During a time like this, it can be important to remember your own self-care. Taking care of yourself and feeling heard can make an overwhelming situation more manageable. You can always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY to talk or find additional resources.

Stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

I have very little time before i turn 18 is it legal to leave 3 months before my 18 b day in tenneseee

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for contacting NRS. It’s understandable you’re looking for independence when you are so close to turning 18. While we are not legal experts, we can speak in general terms. Typically, there are three ways you can leave legally:

The easiest way to leave is through receiving permission to leave from your legal guardian. We realize this can be difficult; maybe there is a friend, colleague, or relative who could help communicate how you’re feeling.

If safety is a concern, Child Protective Services may be another option.

Lastly, if you can show you can support yourself financially and independently, emancipation might be an option. Emancipation grants minors the legal rights of adults. This may be a lengthy and expensive process, so it is not always advised, especially when you are close to turning 18.

With all of this said, the exact rules differ by Tennessee and local laws, and your best choice may vary depending on your unique circumstances. We encourage you to reach out through online chat or phone. The online chat link is on our website (www.1800runaway.org), and our phone number is 1-800-RUN-AWAY.

We look forward to hearing from you soon. Stay safe and best wishes,

NRS

[Guest]

hello is it okay if i runaway?
my name is ***** and im 15. my life has been eh and my parents not giving me any privacy at all. i have talked to my partner about running away.... i just dont know what to to

[ccsmod9]

Thank you for reaching out to NRS. It shows a lot of courage. We are by no means legal experts but we do know that it is not illegal to runway, instead it is considered a status offense. This means that the police can return you to your home. It could be worth exploring your options of where you are going to stay and how you are going to support yourself when considering your actions for your plan. We do have an option called a conference call where you call, and we act as in between with you and your parents to help both parties come up with a plan that works for the both of you. It can be frustrating when you feel like your opinions are not taken into consideration. It is important to remember that you can always reach out to us, and we can talk in more details about what going on and what resources might work best for you. We are 24/7 can be reached through chat or phone at https://www.1800runaway.org/ and 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Stay safe and stay strong,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi i am 14 i will be 15 in a week and i plan on running away but i want to know what will happen to me if my mom calls the cops i live in tacoma washington please help me i dont want to live here anymore and my mom is talking about sending me to a boarding school

[ccsmod3]

Hi, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are planning on running away before mom potentially sends you to a boarding school. That sounds like a very stressful situation. So what could happen if you run away, is mom could report that to the police and if the police find you, you would likely be brought back home. Also anyone you stay with could be charged with what’s called harboring a runaway, though the penalties for that can vary. We want to help as best as we can and can do so by having a conversation with you, if you would like to talk more about what’s going on or some options, please either call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runawau.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS