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Running away from home is not exactly against the law, unless you live in certain states. However, there are many other legal issues regarding running away that could be considered a law or legal status. Here is a look at some of the various laws that are put into effect regarding the issue of running away.
Illegal in Certain States. It is considered a status offense in nine states if you run away and are under the age of 18. Those states include Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Texas, South Carolina, Nebraska, West Virgina and Wyoming.
Continual Running Away. Running away is not considered illegal in the other states but if you are considered a habitual runaway you could be labeled as such by the courts. The courts will consider that you need a supervisor by the courts and it could lead to legal trouble should you runaway again.
Police Custody. In most cases the police need to have legal reasons for holding you in custody. However, if you are considered a runaway police in every single state have the ability to hold you without parental consent and for an unlimited amount of time. Some states go as far as to allow police to place the runaways into detention facilities to be held there until they can appear in court.
Harboring a Runaway. In some states if you are over the age of 18 you could be in legal trouble if you allow that runaway to stay there. It is called harboring a runaway and can include jail time and fines if you are found guilty of doing it.
Return to Home. In 36 states police are able to return the runaway back to their parental home or guardian if they are found by the police. It does not matter that wishes of the runaway they can be returned regardless.
