Minors
who run away from home can be detained by police and returned to a legal guardian
. In California, there is no legal consequence for a minor running away. There is, however, very little a minor can do if caught by the police to not be returned home.
What is considered a runaway?
A runaway is a minor or (depending upon the local jurisdiction)
a person under a specified age
, who has left their parents or legal guardians without permission.
What happens if you get reported as a runaway?
Police Can Detain Runaways
Running away is generally not a crime, but as just described, it is a status offense in some states. Regardless of whether a particular state recognizes running away as a status offense, police can always take runaways into custody. The options available to police include:
returning them home
.
How long do you go to jail for being a runaway?
If you violate this law, you could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. A conviction carries with it
up to 1 year in prison
and/or up to $4,000 in fines. There are various defenses that can be raised for this charge, such as you: Are related, within the second degree, to the child by blood or marriage; or.
How long do police look for runaways?
If you are under seventeen years of age,
the police will continue to look for you indefinitely
. So if you can go to a social worker at a hospital or a police authority if there is abuse, that would be best.
Should you call the police if your child runs away?
As soon as you learn that your child has run away,
report them as missing to your local police
. Ask your police agency to conduct a search within a mile radius of where your child was last seen or believed to have gone.
In what states is running away illegal?
Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming
, consider running away from home a status offense. That means it is against the law when a youth under 18 years old runs away from home.
Can you get in trouble for hiding a runaway?
You could be charged with Harboring a Runaway (also called Aiding and Abetting), or Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. In most cases these won’t be felony charges, but they are considered to be very serious
misdemeanors
and could result in several months of jail time and substantial fines.
When can a child be reported as a runaway?
A child is considered to be a runaway when he or she is
14 or under or mentally disabled and leaves home without permission
and stays away for at least one night or is 15 or older and is away from home without permission for two nights and elects not to return home.
Where can a runaway kid go?
To help locate a runaway shelter, call
the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY anytime
. They will respond via phone, text, or email. You can also search online for a listing of shelters in your area. Family & Youth Services Bureau.
Can a runaway go to jail?
Running away is not a crime.
You cannot get arrested or charged with a crime for running away from your family
. However – and this is a big however – some states consider running away a status offense. A status offense is something considered illegal because of a teen’s underage status.
What are the consequences for running away?
When youth run away, their risk of victimization increases — risks may include
exploitation, sexual assault, violence, theft, substance use issues (drug and alcohol), homelessness, and gang involvement
.
What happens if a runaway crosses state lines?
An out-of-state runaway may be returned to his or her home state in one of three ways:
Release to a parent or legal guardian within 24 hours
(if there is no abuse or neglect) Voluntary Return (with the juvenile’s consent)
How do you find out if a child is a runaway?
DO:
Call the police
. Immediately. Police are trained specifically in how to find a runaway, so alerting them immediately means they can starting looking as soon as possible. DO: File a Missing Persons report, and ask your local law enforcement to issue an Amber Alert if possible.
Can police track a Runaways phone?
Because running away is not a crime,
court orders for cellular telephone records cannot be obtained
. If the cellular telephone that your runaway might be using is in your name, you can get the call records without a court order.
What can I do if my 15 year old refuses to come home?
Call the police
. – This sends the message to teenagers that it is not okay to leave home without permission. – The police are responsible for the safety of citizenry; your child is not safe if you do not know where he is. – Parents are responsible for what happens to their child even when he is not at home.
