17, fleeing from Indiana

[Guest]

Hello.

I am a 17-year-old male, intent on running away from my home in the central Indiana area. I am a high-functioning, autistic minor, having been repeatedly battered and abused these last several years by my parents. Physical scarring, emotional trauma, the works. I have exhausted all legal steps I can to try and get myself removed from the home, either through CPS, extended family, and emancipation (Must be 18 to apply for emancipation, age of majority is 19 here). I'm left with no choice but to flee, because I'm afraid I will face further abuse by my parents, or worse yet, not ever make it to the age of majority.

Currently, I have nowhere to go, nobody to stay with, and no idea where I'd run away to. I'm sure other states would just send me back home, where I'd most certainly be battered further for running, and I can't exactly make it to Canada or another country, not having any sort of passport or the money to travel abroad.

Please, what can I possibly do?

[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