Can Your Parents Lock You Out of the House if They're Angry at You

My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: Maryland

My mother has a tendency to, when she gets angry at me, kick me out of the house, deadbolt the doors, and not open them. She kicks me out without a form of communication to contact anyone and doesn't let me in until nightfall or the morning after. Is this illegal, or just bad parenting? Also, I'm fourteen, if that impacts anything.

Just deal with it bro! Only 4 years left. You certainly do not want to start any legal actions. It'll just mess both your lives up.

probably not legal, call CPS or the cops next time it happens

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Quoting Lehk

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probably not legal, call CPS or the cops next time it happens

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With a 14 year old, there is no probably about it. Its definitely illegal.

I agree...parents have a legal duty to provide for children ...call BOTH CPS and cops if locked out again at night.

Does this relate to your shoplifting?

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Quoting Ohiogal

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Does this relate to your shoplifting?

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Even if it does, a parent cannot lock a 14 year old out of the house, particularly overnight.

Without more facts, it's difficult to say whether kiddo's being mistreated or neglected. For example, perhaps the issue is that kiddo is not coming home until after curfew and, due to her prior behavior, she is not trusted with a key and her parents prefer not to leave their home unlocked at night. Or it could be that kiddo has another place to go, or is specifically instructed to go to another place (e.g., grandma's house, dad's house) but is trying to get mom into trouble.

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Quoting Mr. Knowitall

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Without more facts, it's difficult to say whether kiddo's being mistreated or neglected. For example, perhaps the issue is that kiddo is not coming home until after curfew and, due to her prior behavior, she is not trusted with a key and her parents prefer not to leave their home unlocked at night. Or it could be that kiddo has another place to go, or is specifically instructed to go to another place (e.g., grandma's house, dad's house) but is trying to get mom into trouble.

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What KIA said.

As with all 14 year olds, this child has failed to tell the entire story.....

So WHY are you being locked out and at what time? How long are you being locked out? Is this a matter of you not being able to get in the house for an hour while she makes you cool your heels, or a matter of locking you out of the house and her running off to the Bahamas for the weekend?

No, it has nothing to do with anything I've done, usually. When she gets mad about something I've done, she usually makes me stay in my room and refuses to let me out (not that unreasonable), but when she gets fed up with things in her office, she often blows up and just tells me to get out.

She's allowed to tell you to go outside and play. With your story, it's difficult to get a sense of where the facts and and the drama begins.