Running away, youth shelters, and the law

Not under federal law. Federal rules define a runaway youth as someone under 18 who leaves home without a parent's or guardian's permission, and that definition is used to offer help, not to charge anyone.

Some states treat running away as a status offense (behavior that breaks the law only because of your age, like skipping school). A status offense can bring a juvenile court case, but it is not an adult crime.

Federal law also pushes states to keep status offenders out of locked detention. Under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) cuts a state's yearly grant by 20 percent for each core requirement it fails, and keeping status offenders out of secure lockups is one of them. There is an exception when a young person breaks a valid court order.

In Schall v. Martin (1984), the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a New York law that let family court hold some juveniles before trial. Along the way, the Court said young people, unlike adults, are always in some form of custody, and when a parent's care breaks down, the state has a part to play.

That idea is why police or a court can get involved when a minor leaves home, even when no crime happened. It also means the system is supposed to look for a safe place for you, which is not always the house you left.

Many shelters for teens are funded by the federal Basic Center Program, which serves youth under 18. Federal funds cover a stay of up to 21 days.

The shelter will try to reach your family. Under the federal rule for these programs, it must contact your parents, guardian, or other relatives as soon as it can, and no later than 72 hours after you arrive, based on what is best for you. If contacting them is not in your best interest, for example because of abuse at home, the shelter must tell another adult you name instead and write down why.

Your records are private. A funded shelter cannot share your name, address, or photos without consent from you and your parent, with narrow exceptions. Some states do require shelters to notify juvenile court when a young person arrives.