Do the Penalties for Harboring a Runaway Still Apply After I Turn Eighteen

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Washington. Please only give me advice and please do not judge me based on the question I am asking. Please do not tell me things such as: "You are just a rebellious teen," or: "You need to stay in school." I have heard these before and they have been of no help to me.

I am a seventeen year old and want to runaway with my boyfriend, who is eighteen. The conditions of my home are not suitable for a child and I am unwilling to go into foster care. Building a case for emancipation is far too difficult for my cercumstances and will take too much time to be worth the effort.

I read in another thread that because of my age, the police will not actively search for me, but if I am stopped and ID'd, they will return me to my custodial parent.

My boyfriend and I have read over and understand the penalties for harboring a runaway. But if I am not found until AFTER my eighteenth birthday, would my boyfriend still get in trouble for harboring me during the time that I was underaged? And, if I am found after my eighteenth birthday, will I be penalized for runing away when I was still seventeen? If my boyfriend or whoever we stay with could still get in trouble for harboring me during the time I was reported as a runaway, what if the police are not informed of who I have been staying with?

Yes, you can BOTH still be in trouble after you turn 18. The crime would be committed BEFORE you turn 18, and turning 18 doesn't erase the crime.

You're not going to like this next bit, so feel free to skip it if you wish.

You're obviously nowhere near mature enough to be living outside of the home.

There. I said it.

Oh - and emancipation wouldn't happen, period.

Yes, I know. That's why I stated not to tell me those kinds of things before I even asked the question.

Here's another question for you. What if the police, my custodial parent, and all others are not informed of my location during the time in which I was a runaway?

Where in the Washington State Legislature does it say that we will both still be in trouble?

What if the sun turned pink and it started raining blueberry pies?

(Well...I'd be less hungry, but that's beside the point).

Hailee, do you really think that your parent won't make a police report?

Even if you are not located until after you turn 18, your boyfriend for one can STILL be in trouble. It's called "kidnapping". And if he takes you over state lines...he's talking FELONY time.

Understand?

How does my boyfriend get accused of kindapping if I am going with him WILLINGLY???

I have read the laws on that. Sorry. Not happening. Not in this state. Ha!

Quote:

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Quoting haileemaylee

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How does my boyfriend get accused of kindapping if I am going with him WILLINGLY???

I have read the laws on that. Sorry. Not happening. Not in this state. Ha!

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Because, Hailee, you're a MINOR. YOU cannot legally choose where you live.

"Running away" means "leaving without parental consent". All Mom/Dad has to do is file a missing persons report.

And yes honey - I live in WA.

But hey - knock yourself out!

And once again...where is your proof of this?? I am trying to have a mature conversation. You don't understand the conditions that I live with, which I will not disclose publicly so do not ask what they are. But if you knew what I live with and have to deal with every single day, I can 100% garuntee you would not allow you child to stay at my home if you knew of the activity that goes on here.

And if a parent could file a missing person report on their runaway child, then all parents would, and there would be no such thing as "harboring a runaway." It would simply be "kidnapping."

Now, since you clearly have a problem with reading what I'm posting, I will repeat myself.

Where in the Washington State Legislature does it say that we will both be in trouble?

PS. Do you live in Spokane??? You sound like someone I know...

Where is your proof that it will not happen?

RCW 13.32A.080 Unlawful Harboring of a Minor -- Penalty -- Defense -- Prosecution of Adult for Involving Child in Commission of Offense.

and about kidnapping:

RCW 9A.40.010 Definitions

Chapter 9A.40 of the Washington State Legislature is called Kidnapping, Unlawful Imprisonment, and Custodial Interference. In the other sections of this chapter it states that Custodial Interference is done by relatives of the person who is "kidnapped."

Even the parent of the child can be charged with kidnapping.

Ha, even the custodial parent of the child can be charged with kidnapping.

RCW 9A.40.060 Custodial Interference of the First Degree
RCW 9A.40.060 Custodial Interference of the Second Degree

Any person taking in a "runaway" and caught doing so is charged with "harboring a runaway." They are not charged with "Kidnapping." Taking a minor out of town is does not mean kidnapping, it still means harboring, or providing shelter to a runaway, because in RCW 13.32A.082, it states that "shelter means the person's home or any structure over which the person has any control." This includes the vehical we would use to leave town.

Go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.40 for more on Chapter 9A.40
Go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=13.32A for more on Chapter 13.32A

I would not ask a question that I know the answer to.

And, once again. Where in the Washington State Legislature does it say that we will both still be in trouble? It seems that I can find the answer to whatever I want in the Legislature, except for the answer to this.

And if the police are not informed of my whereabouts during the time that I am reported as a runaway, and after I turn eighteen are still not informed of those whereabouts, how can the people I was staying with get in trouble with the law?

How can I get in trouble after I turn eighteen? I would really like to know.

I cannot find where in the Legislature it states the answers to these questions. So someone who actually knows what they're talking about, please inform me. Kindly. Thank you.

There doesn't have to be a specific law that says, "Once you are 18 you can still get in trouble for something you did when you were younger than 17". Unless you can find me a law that says all crimes are wiped out once you reach the magic age, then they still exist and you can still get in trouble for them.