Are runaway laws enforced in Arkansas?

[Guest]

Im 17 and live with my granparents i have a baby with my girl friend i want to move in with her my granparents have guardianship of me but my mom has full custody of me my granparents said i cant move in with my girl friend but my mom says i can will i get in trouble if i move in with my girl friend i have my mom's consent

[Guest]

I am 17 and I will be 18 in June. My boyfriend is 21 and we have a baby together, I was 16 when we got together and I had parental consent on us being together. Our baby is one month old and we want to move to Missouri but my mom says I can't move out until I turn 18 but I don't want to wait till June. If I move to Missouri with my boyfriend without parental consent could I be charged as a runaway and would he get charged with harboring a runaway?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I am 17 and I will be 18 in June

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 and you have some questions about the runaway laws in your area.
We are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

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.

NRS is here to listen and here to help.
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).

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I live in california and i feel like leaving to Arkansas i hate it here way to much i already live with foster parent but they just make my life worse. Im force to stay where my mom works knowing i cant see her and i plan leaving soon but scared ill get caught and make everything worse

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for contacting National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear that you hate where you live. Your safety and wellbeing is very important. You mentioned that you feel like leaving to Arkansas, running away is not illegal. If you were to leave home and your foster parent files a runaway report the police may find you and return you home. If you were to stay with a friend in Arkansas, they could get in trouble for harboring a runaway. Please feel free to contact us directly through our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), or via email, live chat.

[Guest]

I a teenager that took off with here boyfriend we call the cops she 16 they said they can't do nothing

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now and are concerned about the safety of your daughter. We hope we can help in keeping her safe.

We are sorry to hear that the police are not able to help you locate your daughter. You could try calling a higher up official such as a County Sheriff who may be able to assist you better. Some useful resources are Team H.O.P.E at 1-866-305-4673 which acts as a support system for parents of missing kids, Child Find at 1-800-426-5678 and Polly Klaas Foundation at 1-800-587-4357 which both help in locating missing children.

Again, we are very sorry to hear about your daughter. We hope these resources are helpful. Please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY to talk more specifically about the situation.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 16 (female and live in Arkansas) and will be 17 in July. I have been struggling with my home situation since I was about 11. My father has grabbed my hair and pulled and yanked it, slapped my face so hard it left marks or wells, and even had his hands or arm around my neck. I have been very scared multiple times and have been wanting to leave but my problem is I have a younger brother (14) and sister (5 almost 6). The sister is my second cousin who we got when she was 2 and have been trying to adopt her but have not fully adopted her but they do have permanent guardianship. I am worried if I file and abuse reports or anything she will go back to her birth mom and I do not want that to happen. I’m looking for anyway I can leave and go live with someone else without causing issues for my little sis. I have multiple family and close family friends that have offered me a place to live for many years but I have no idea how to go about any of it. I am at a friends house writing this while she is sleeping and I don’t have a phone but will check back next time I am over.

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for writing in. It sounds like you’ve been going through an incredibly difficult time at home and it’s brave of you to reach out for support. It’s not okay that your father has been hurting you and you don’t ever deserve to be treated that way. You deserve to be loved and cherished, especially by your parent. We’re not legal experts, but we can share what we know.
It sounds like you’ve thought about your options, including child abuse reporting. It makes sense that you would be concerned about your sister and it’s really kind of you to look out for your siblings’ well being before taking any action for yourself. We’re not experts in abuse reports, so we can’t guarantee what the outcome will be if you make a report. If you reach out to Child Help, they may be able to give you a clearer answer as to what the possible outcomes of the report will be for your sister. Their number is 1-800-422-4453.
It sounds like you’re wanting to leave home, which is understandable given the circumstances. In Arkansas, it looks like the age of majority is 18. If you choose to leave home without consent before that time, your father would have the right to file a runaway report. If the police are able to locate you, they would return you home. If you disclose that there’s abuse going on at home, they’re supposed to investigate that before sending you home. On some occasions, we have seen police choose not to pursue or accept a runaway report for 17-year-olds, however we aren’t sure which police stations have that policy. Your best bet would be to reach out to your local police non-emergency line and inquire hypothetically if they accept runaway reports for 17-year-olds. Another option would be to ask your dad if you can stay with another family member or friends. If your dad says it’s okay (and maybe gives you written consent for good measure), there should be no issue legally. It might help to have a family member call your father to invite you to stay over for an extended amount of time.
If you’d like to speak more specifically about your situation, please feel free to reach out to us 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929. Best of luck to you.

[Guest]

i live in batesville ar my gf is wanting to run away from home because of FAMILY issues at home and she want to come live with me im 19 and she is 17 will either one of us be breaking the law

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear that your girl friend is experiencing family issues at home. Since your girlfriend is under 18, she would need her families permission in order to leave home. If she decides to runaway, her family has the right to file a runaway report on her. With a runaway report, if the police find her they would return her home. Running away is not against the law, however you could get charged with harboring a runaway if she stays with you. Some police do not accept runaway reports for 17 year old's. Your girlfriend could contact her local police through their non emergency phone number to ask about their runaway policy. If you don't feel comfortable calling the police we could contact them for you. If you have any other questions or your girlfriend wants to discuss some of the issues at home , please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat.

[Guest]

hi, okay so my parents treat me horriable and Im 17 and want to move out my boyfriend is 18 and we have been dating a while i read about the romeo and juilet law in arkansas could i move in with my boyfriend and his family with out getting in troble?

[ccsmod5]

Hey,
Thanks for writing in. It sounds like you’re in a difficult situation and you don’t deserve to be treated badly especially by your parents. We’re not legal experts but generally speaking, you need to be 18 to leave home without consent. If you do leave without permission, your family would have the right to file a runaway report. If the police are able to locate you, they may return you home. That being said, we have sometimes seen police choose not to pursue 17-year-old runaways. The response varies from police station to police station. Your best bet might be to call your local non-emergency police line and ask if they accept reports for 17-year-olds. If you’re uncomfortable doing that, we are also able to call out for you as well. If you wanna talk more specifically about your situation or need help figuring out your options, please feel free to reach out to us 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929. Best of luck.

[Guest]

Mom kicked me out and I'm staying with a friend who is 18

Last weekend I had a huge argument with my mom and my brother. Things at home have been heated for a few weeks now and I'm tired of staying with my parents. But I know I can move out legally until I'm 18 or get emancipated. Well my brother and I got in a fist fight and I went back home to relax and my mom saw my face and started lecturing me on how I need to grow up and change. I'm 17 years old. I told her how I was tired of my dad, her and my brother and how once I turn 18 I will move out. She told me to not wait until I'm 18 and to just leave now. So I did seeing that she was kicking me out. I've been staying with my friend who is 18 and lives with his dad and brother and sisters. They openly let me in their home. A few days after I left my brother told me in school that my dad told him to tell me that I'm not allowed back into my home and can't get the rest of my things. Today he told me that my dad is planning on having my friend and his dad arrested for letting me stay in their home. But is that right for him to do since he himself said I'm not allowed back into my own home and since my mom kicked me out?

That not right. My sister friend's family did the same thing. They put the girl out my mom asked her did she wants to stay with us. Then her family called the police and said she's a runaway

[ccsmod4]

Reply: That not right.

Hi,

Thank you for your response to another user’s post. Often forums are a place of support and understanding for many youth. It often may be validating and helpful for users to read similar situations as well as exchange feedback to one another. For anyone experiencing any difficulties or challenges, the National Runaway Safeline encourages youth to reach out to our 24/7 crisis support line either by phone or chat for immediate services.

We hope that this information is helpful to you! We’d love to hear what you think about your experience with the National Runaway Safeline (NRS).
If you have a moment, please click the link below our signature line to fill out a quick survey.

Thank you,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm 15 and I have alcoholic parents I've been a runaway three times and they just took me home. I recently moved to arkansas if I leave again now that I'm in a different state what will they do? And how old do you have to be to leave your parents house without there permission?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out and having the bravery to share what’s going on with you. We’re sorry to hear about your situation. You do not deserve this, home should be where someone feels safe and welcomed.
Although we are not legal experts here, generally you are not a legal adult until you are 18. Before that point, your parents would be within their legal rights to file runaway reports and potentially could charge anyone who shelters you for harboring a runaway. This process is generally standard regardless of state. If you were to become an emancipated minor, you would have the same rights as an adult. Emancipation can be a lengthy, cost-intensive process with specific requirements. In Arkansas, a minor can petition starting at 16, but you could call either the Legal Services of Northeast Arkansas (1-800-952-9243), http://www.arkansaslegalservices.org or East Arkansas Legal Services (879-339-9834) for more information about emancipation laws in your state.
It sounded like you may not being taken care of in the way that you deserve. You may be able to report this to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors and they could help you through the reporting process, if that was something you felt like you needed to do.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time and that you are not alone in this. If you would like to talk more in detail please call 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in.

-NRS

[Guest]

My cousin ran away but her mom mentally abuses her is the anyway she could stay or live with me if her mom is doing that?

[ccsmod5]

Hi, there,
Thank you for reaching out and trying to advocate for your cousin. She is lucky to have someone like you in her corner standing up for her. We aren’t legal experts, but can give some general information. If your cousin is not a legal adult (in most states, this is 1, she would need her mom’s permission to stay elsewhere. Otherwise, her mom has the right to call the local police and if the police are able to find your cousin they may return her home. That being said, if there is abuse going on we encourage you or your cousin to file an abuse report with child protective services. For more information about abuse reporting and what might happen if you do file an abuse report, you can call Child Help at 1-800-422-4453.
Thank you again for reaching out. We hope this was helpful and we encourage you to reach out by phone if you need additional resources or need help figuring out your options. Our number is 1-800-786-2929 and our lines are always open. If you have a moment, we'd appreciate your feedback of our crisis services at the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

Stay safe!

[Guest]

Hey I’m 14 and my grandmother is always yelling, cussing, and accusing me of so many things that have nvr even crossed my mind. Is there anyway I could dip out and not suffer legal consequences?? Bc the courts just put me on probation, house arrest, etc. for things I’ve nvr even done and I get treated like ******** all of my home time for basically nothing. Pls I need help bc I have a friend that will take me but I have no other family and rly just want to leave

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out. It must be so frustrating and hurtful when your grandmother yells and cusses at you, or accuses you of things you didn’t do. That’s very unfair. While we aren’t legal experts, we can give some general information. Since you are a minor, you would need consent from your legal guardian to live somewhere else. If you leave without permission, your grandmother would have the right to file a runaway report with the police and if they are able to locate you they may return you home. You also mention that you are on probation and house arrest; running away under these circumstances could mean that you’ll face more severe consequences than one might usually face for running away.

Please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 if you want to speak more specifically about your situation or if you need resources. We’re here 24/7 to listen and help in any way we can.

Sincerely,

NRS

[Guest]

If your dad and mom are verbally abusive can you run away. I am 15

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. It’s great that you were able to find out some information about our hotline. Hopefully we can help.

Legally you are a minor and under your guardian’s supervision until you are 18 or are emancipated by a court of law. If you decide to leave home without their permission, your parents could file a runaway report on you. Running away is not a crime, it is a status offense, so you wouldn’t be arrested for doing so.

You don’t deserve to be abused in any way at. You’re always able to report the verbal abuse to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. It may also be a good place to explore options as far as transferring custody. We also have legal aid resources in our database, they’re lawyers who help youth for free. We’re here to try to brainstorm options with you.

We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. You are always welcome to call into our 24/7 crisis center, or use our chatting services via our website. However, the chatting service is not open 24/7. So the best way to tell us everything would be to just call into our hotline and talk to one of our trained liners.

Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

im planning to runaway with some friends i am 12 theres also 2 others who are 12 and two thirteen year olds and and one 14 year old we are all feeling unhappy and unsafe at home should we run away

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you all are going through a difficult time right now. We are not legal expers but we do have general information on the laws. If you were to leave home without permission your parents could file a runaway report. If the police did find you they most likely would bring you home.
There are other options other than running away. One option you could consider is talking to your school counselor, sometimes talking to a professional can help you feel better. Another option could be is to consider asking if any family members or friends would be willing to let you stay with them. If you do choose to run away and need a place to stay we can help you find shelters in your area if you give us a call.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support to you. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS