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Speak Up! - View Question #159 |
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Question: Is it unlawful for a minor (16) to runaway? If so what is the punishment?
Answer: If you are in a crisis situation or need counseling, LawForKids.org lists many 1-800 help lines that might be able to assist you. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
If a person is under age 18 in Arizona, he or she cannot leave home without a parent's permission unless he or she is fully emancipated, or the parents have lost their right to parental authority.
If a 16-year-old leaves home without permission from a parent or legal guardian, he or she can be prosecuted as an incorrigible child (A.R.S. § 8-201(15)(c)). Some of the consequences of being found incorrigible include being fined, be placed on probation, and being ordered to do community service. The specific charges and consequences are left up to the officer of the court.
If the parent cannot control the child, the child can be removed from the parent's supervision. The child may then be placed in an appropriate living place, a foster home or some type or a state facility.
Even if the parent does not report the run away, Child Protective Services can become involved if the minor living away from home is not receiving age-appropriate supervision, is engaging in harmful conduct, does not have adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or is living with an inappropriate person.
You will not be punished by being jailed, or fined, but running away will cause you a lot of problems. You may also cause problems for any adult who helps you.
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On 03/07/04
Christa from AZ said:
The law is the law and if someone does not like it then don't run away. The law will get you in the end. I think that those who do not like it are the ones who need it most.
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On 01/07/04
liza from FL said:
let me tell you something my mom pinch me with a knife i want to run away but i can't the police says i can't just hang there because my future says i'm dead i'm not living anymore please get help before she trys something bad
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On 11/26/03
hunter from CA said:
if you aren't smart enough to at least skim over your post to proof read you aren't responisble to survive on your own! also to the person who said that if your in love it shouldn't matter...well thats just foolish. you need to learn about life, many guys will say anything to get in your pants, and, love is ultimatly the evolutionary chains way to keep humans away from extinction. you see our brains developed to a point where simple instinct isnt enough, so the rush of endorphines and other body chemicals give us a high so we have sex and reproduce.
and, as a side note...these law toons are
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On 11/18/03
Niki from MN said:
My mom is raging at me, and this isn't the first time. In the past she has slapped me a couple times and threatened and chased me, i am always afraid of her, i want to run away but i don't want to burden my friends with housing a fugitive. My mom will call the cops and i know it. I've asked he rrepeatedly if i can move out. she won't let me,i want my own independence from this hell. today i had a horrible day and after quiting smoking i had one ciggarette, and she was watching me from across the parking lot. she came up and started screaming at me she called my school and cancelled my off camp
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On 10/28/03
britney from TN said:
Hello my is Britney I am going to give you advice you don't want to run away because anything could happen to you, you could get raped or get hurt really bad also if they report you to the police you could get sent off to somewhere you don't want to go like a grouphome fosterhome. You might not listen to the advice that I give you but I am telling you the truth running away from home isn't worth getting into trouble over just hang in there and I promise you everything will be o.k
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