Can you get in trouble for helping someone run away?

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.

Can your parents call the cops on you for running away at 16?

Parents or legal guardians can report a runaway to the police at any time. Federal Law prohibits any law enforcement agency from establishing a waiting period before accepting a runaway-child report.

Can your parents call the cops on you if you runaway at 17?

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.

Can you runaway at 17 in California?

In California it is not considered a crime for a juvenile (any person under the age of 18) to runaway from home. Conversely, under Canadian law, when a child runs away from home it is not considered a crime. It is not a crime for a juvenile to run away from home in California.

What happens to a runaway teenager?

If a minor runs away in California and is detained by a police officer, the minor has four legal options. The minor can be returned home, go live with a legal guardian, apply for emancipation, or become court dependent. In some states, though, runaways may receive a criminal charge.

Why is it illegal to run away?

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.