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What Happens If I Runaway At 17
There is very little you can do to secure the return of your 17 year old that runs away voluntarily. You cannot call the police to force your 17 year old to return to your household because the child voluntarily ran away. The police may only bring back home the runaway if the runaway child is in some sort of danger. Child Services may only conduct an investigation and take action if the child is in an unsafe or unhealthy environment. Going to court will also not help much because the courts cannot force the runaway 17 year old to return home.
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17 Year Old Runaway Laws
In most states, running away from home is not illegal. This is because the law provides that juvenile courts only have power over juveniles under 17 years of age when they run away or desert home. However, the law requires parents to continue supporting the runaway 17 year old until they turn 18. They may only withdraw support if somehow the court terminates that obligation. However, parents need only to offer the basic necessities to meet their obligation.
Attorney Daryl Longworth, a Katy, Tx Divorce Lawyer, also states that….”adults who want to…for lack of a better word, ‘help’ runaways should be very cautious and strongly consider getting law enforcement involved immediately.”
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Legal options for runaway 17 year olds
Surviving on the street in the cold is not easy and exposes runaways to a lot of dangers. There is also the risk that the runaway my take up negative habits like abusing drugs or alcohol. They may also become victims of violent crime. The 17 year old runaways have the following legal options:
- Contact the local police or shelter to help them return home
- The court may grant guardianship but the parents will still have to provide for the child
- The child may ask for emancipation in an emancipation proceeding where they get to become adults
- The court may become the child’s guardian in dependency proceedings
In some states parents can force their runaway teenager to come back home. Parents remain responsible for caring for the runaway child until the child reaches 18 years of age or is emancipated.
People that help runaways can get in Trouble
People that harbor runaway children may face arrest in many states. They may be charged for harboring a runaway or contributing to the delinquency of a minor. For example, in some states, people who lie to a parent or police about the whereabouts of a runaway may find themselves in trouble with the law. They may even be in more trouble if they encourage a 17 year old to run away from home or allow the teenager to engage in criminal behavior.
Handling teen runaways
It is necessary to teach your kids how to face their problems even if you are part of those problems. Give them the necessary tools that they can use to fix their problems to lessen the pressures that stress them out. When your teen comes home after running away, do not mock or provoke the child. You should contact the police if your teen child has run away. Contact an attorney if you are providing shelter for a runaway 17 year old. The lawyer will give you advice about the laws in your state so that you can determine what steps to take to avoid breaking the law.
