Can runaway charges get dropped by your parents?

Answer 1

Dependant upon your age, a charge of 'runaway' is merely used by the juvenile court system to help impose a degree of control on action which could not only place you at risk, but place them at risk as well.

Here's a scenario, which may or may not have anything to do with your current situation, but serves as an important scenario to help impress upon young people how liability rests upon parents.

Let's say you decided to run away. IN your desire to do so you took your parent's car. You're not yet sixteen and do not have a driving license. Whilst you're driving as carefully as possible a small child on a bicycle runs in front of you and is badly injured, even possibly facing death.

You were able to see the child out of the corner of your eye and you prepared to stop. Sadly, however, you did not have sufficient time and the child was struck.

Considering the above, whose fault is this? And, considering the facts, who is responsible for all of the hospital bills and possibly a lifetime of nursing care, or worse, a child's funeral where the parents of the child are so emotionally distraught one of them takes their own life.

Who is responsible for all of this tragedy and mounting debts? The answer is your parents. Whether you slowed to avoid striking the child or not, you had no legal right to be in that car. You were not licensed to drive and you had no insurance to cover you in the event of such a tragedy. So, because you are not an adult, your parents are the sole liable party for all that you have done.

Indeed, your life would be impacted. But your parents would have to pay for every single aspirin, every surgery, every x-ray and every therapy the child required for the rest of her life. And if one of the parents took her life in despair for your hitting their child, your parents would not only be responsible for the funeral for that parent, but they would be liable for what is described as 'Loss of Consortia' - a term which means the loss one parent experiences as a result of what has happened to the other parent. Your parents would have to accept the liability. All of this can run into millions.

It may be that your parents have insurance to protect them. But typically, the auto insurance they carry is for tragic accidents such as these when they are behind the wheel, driving with their legal drivers license. It may be that your parents have a home owners policy to protect them should a tragedy befall the family, such as having someone getting hurt around the house, or drowning when swimming in your family's pool. But they don't have coverage to protect them when you commit a crime.

They could lose everything they've ever saved for. They could have all the furniture, entertainment equipment, cars, family silver, wedding rings, etc. taken and sold at auction to help settle the debt they owe because of what you've done.

Sharing this scenario above is not offered to punish you or anger you. It's offered to help you understand the position you place your parents in when you act imprudently.

So how do the parents protect themselves from being faced with any liability when you commit acts of innocence or stupidity? One such step, particularly when you choose to leave the family home and act outside of your parent's wishes, is to declare you a runaway.

This way, your parents are able to stand before the courts and say "we love our son or daughter, however their actions are placing us and other members of the family at risk. We do not wish to lose all we've saved for in our lives because one of our children has no regard for us. "

The judge will take into consideration all of the circumstances and several things may happen: The judge could throw her/his hands up and declare you 'emancipated' from your parents. This means you're on your own mate. Whatever you do, whatever happens, however hungry you may be, however cold you may be - don't call your parents. It's no longer their problem. You don't live there and they have no legal connection to you, whatsoever. Should you fall ill or be in an accident, your parents cannot help as you're no longer part of their family insurance plan. And you may not sleep there as you are separated/divorced from them.

This means whatever happens, they no longer need to worry about your behaviour impacting their lives. It's a safety step for them and it's a prudent one.

The next thing that may happen is that the judge considers what behaviour you've been exhibiting and orders that you take an anger management course, a family guidance course, or a social responsibility course. If you refuse the court has every legal right, if your parents say they can no longer cope with you, to make you the court's ward. This means the court and Children's Services decide what is in your best interest.

This may include a strict residential education scheme to determine whether the courts can possibly place you with Foster Parents. Should they feel you have no respect for anyone of authority, they would be required to detain you, in a secured residential facility where you will be offered continued education. If you throw up two fingers to the courts and refuse, they can't force you to study. But they can protect you from yourself and especially from the rest of society and detain you 'at their pleasure' until you reach age of majority. (the age when you are legally able to make decisions for yourself.)

And finally, let's say for the sake of argument that you have a 4.0 average at school you're on the Dean's list, and you belong to multiple civic programmes. And the greater problem is not you, but with your parents. They're alcoholics and abusive, and you need help to protect yourself from them.

In that case, the courts will hear your petition through the attorney you will have to represent you and the court will listen to the plan you have set out as to how you will provide your own subsistence; Housing, food, medical care, transportation, and utilities - all this whilst you're continuing your education to maintain that 4.0 average. If all looks ticketyboo, the courts will grant you emancipation from your parents, thus declaring you an adult, despite the fact you're only sixteen. And they'll wish you the best of luck in all your endeavours. And finally, they'll remind your parents that they no longer have any authority over you and equally, no responsibility for anything you may do.

Yes, runaway charges may be dropped by your parents, provided they are not attached to any other charges of a greater extent. However, your parents will most likely have received counsel that to protect themselves from your behaviour, this is part of the process they must follow, regardless of how painful it is for all of you.

Answer 2

No, charges filed by the authorities cannot be dropped by parents. Only the prosecutor or the judge handling the case has the authority to drop charges. However, parents can provide support and assistance to navigate the legal process.