Running to a safer home for baby at 17

[Unregistered]

I am worried for my newborn son and 17-year old girlfriend. She lives in an unstable household full of disobedient kids and a mother who doesn't punish her kids and stresses her out a lot. I don't want her to suffer anymore and I don't want my son to grow up disobedient. Which is why I plan to move into an apartment when she turns eighteen.
She will be eighteen in seven months, May. I think it would be wiser to take her in February because her mother is already causing a rift in my relationship with my girlfriend and my son. She won't let me come over and see him and continuously tries to do everything in her power to push me out of the picture like trying to convince my girlfriend not to put me on the birth certificate. My girlfriend obviously didn't listen and cares about me because I'm on the birth certificate and he has my last name. She wants me out of the picture because I'm stepping up as a father and good boyfriend. I am on the baby's birth certificate. I want the three of us to move into an apartment together in February. By that time she'll be 4 months till 18. Can she be charged as a runaway then and will I be charged with aiding a runaway?

[ccsmod9]

RE: Running to a safer home for baby at 17

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline and posting on our bulletin board. It sounds like the living situation is difficult for your girlfriend and not ideal for her and your son. You sound like a very concerned and caring boyfriend and father. We commend you for stepping up and trying to take care of your new family.

We're not legal experts here at NRS, so unfortunately we cannot tell you for certain what would happen if your girlfriend left home to live with you 4 months before her 18th birthday. However, we can tell you that often, seventeen is considered a "gray area" in many areas and by many police departments. What we means by this is that many times, police will not take a runaway report on a seventeen year-old runaway even though they are not legally considered an adult (which is usually at age 18 ). One way to know whether or not they will is to ask directly by calling your local non-emergency phone number. Does this make sense?

We're glad you reached out to us. Please remember that we're here to listen and here to help. If you need any further assistance, we're here and can be reached at the number below 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Best of luck!