Harboring a Runaway in Washington State

[zigmystr]

This is in regards to a 17 1/2 yr. old male in Washington state.He was involved in an argument with his mom that eventually ended up with him leaving home. She called police and they basically told her to let it be.They also told her she could file a runaway report but that at his age they would not actively search for him.If however he was stopped and ID'd that they would return him to her.So far she has opted not to take this step.
My question....
If the parent knows where he is at and has willingly allowed him to go and stay there can she then report me as harboring him? She has allowed him to stay with my family for the past 6 days and now is threatening to file a runaway report and harboring charges because the child wants more time to consider their options.He continues to work while in my care.He will continue with school while in my care.He has just 6 mos left of school and 7 mos. til he turns 18. What are his options as well as mine?
Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Notify local law enforcement of his present location and home address. (Don't use 911 - use a non-emergency line or go into the station in person.)

[zigmystr]

If I report where he is and that his mom knows where he is then will it still be considered as harboring? WE do have the something called the Beca law in Washington but I'm not sure what exactlty it means. I will not force him to return home and I know that if he is forced to leave here he will end up on the streets.

[Happy Trails]

If I report where he is and that his mom knows where he is then will it still be considered as harboring? WE do have the something called the Beca law in Washington but I'm not sure what exactlty it means. I will not force him to return home and I know that if he is forced to leave here he will end up on the streets.

The limited information that I was able to research on the "Becka law" had to do with school truancy.....

The school counselor should have more information on regards to that.

Do as Mr. K has advised.

If the mother calls the police, then you have already notified them of his whereabouts.

The Washington statute states:

RCW 13.32A.082
Providing shelter to minor — Requirement to notify parent, law enforcement, or department.

(1) Any person who, without legal authorization, provides shelter to a minor and who knows at the time of providing the shelter that the minor is away from the parent's home without the permission of the parent, or other lawfully prescribed residence, shall promptly report the location of the child to the parent, the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the person lives, or the department. The report may be made by telephone or any other reasonable means.

(2) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.

(a) "Shelter" means the person's home or any structure over which the person has any control.

(b) "Promptly report" means to report within eight hours after the person has knowledge that the minor is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission.

(3) When the department receives a report under subsection (1) of this section, it shall make a good faith attempt to notify the parent that a report has been received and offer services designed to resolve the conflict and accomplish a reunification of the family.

You need to protect yourself from being sued civilly.

[garaud8269]

What process needs to occur to charge a family with a civil lawsuit for harboring a runaway, as well as aiding and abetting? My girlfriend's daughter ran away to a friend, whose mother informed us she was there. When we told her to return the child, she said OK, went home, and we heard nothing for hours. We then called the police, who told us to go to the house and ask for her back. When we arrived, the mother informed us that her daughter had taken our daughter to a movie or something, and she didn't know where she was (she has a cell phone, and never bothered to check). She also informed us that the child has "more rights than you know" and "would runaway" if the mother attempted to return her to us.

We then decided to check another friend's house, and lo and behold, the vehicle was there, but the household claimed our daughter wasn't there. My girlfriend then watched the vehicle back out and when she attempted to stop her, the girl floored it, racing back home. I was sitting on the side of the road waiting for them at 1:30am when they arrived back at her friend's house, and we called the police immediately. They told us to wait for an officer. By 3:45am, no officer had shown up, so we had to give up and go home.

The next day, the mother called to inform us, VERY matter-of-factly, that our daughter had shown up, somehow been granted another night in the house, and had run away in the middle of the night.

That was 2 weeks ago... and we haven't heard a peep since.

What are our legal options with regards to a civil suit against those parents? We would very much like to nail them for all of this, ESPECIALLY since our daughter is bipolar, suicidal and currently on medication that psychiatrists have acknowledged will make her MORE suicidal and so on...

She was supposed to have a medical and dental appointment last week, but missed them both because she ran from her friend's mother's house.

Since the mother knowingly let the child stay at her house another night, isn't she responsible for the anything that happens to the child, as well as any and all charges stemming from this?

Would a lawyer take this case pro bono by any chance?

[seniorjudge]

What process needs to occur to charge a family with a civil lawsuit for harboring a runaway, as well as aiding and abetting? My girlfriend's daughter ran away to a friend, whose mother informed us she was there. When we told her to return the child, she said OK, went home, and we heard nothing for hours. We then called the police, who told us to go to the house and ask for her back. When we arrived, the mother informed us that her daughter had taken our daughter to a movie or something, and she didn't know where she was (she has a cell phone, and never bothered to check). She also informed us that the child has "more rights than you know" and "would runaway" if the mother attempted to return her to us.

We then decided to check another friend's house, and lo and behold, the vehicle was there, but the household claimed our daughter wasn't there. My girlfriend then watched the vehicle back out and when she attempted to stop her, the girl floored it, racing back home. I was sitting on the side of the road waiting for them at 1:30am when they arrived back at her friend's house, and we called the police immediately. They told us to wait for an officer. By 3:45am, no officer had shown up, so we had to give up and go home.

The next day, the mother called to inform us, VERY matter-of-factly, that our daughter had shown up, somehow been granted another night in the house, and had run away in the middle of the night.

That was 2 weeks ago... and we haven't heard a peep since.

What are our legal options with regards to a civil suit against those parents? We would very much like to nail them for all of this, ESPECIALLY since our daughter is bipolar, suicidal and currently on medication that psychiatrists have acknowledged will make her MORE suicidal and so on...

She was supposed to have a medical and dental appointment last week, but missed them both because she ran from her friend's mother's house.

Since the mother knowingly let the child stay at her house another night, isn't she responsible for the anything that happens to the child, as well as any and all charges stemming from this?

Would a lawyer take this case pro bono by any chance?

I expect you will get more help if you start your own thread; this thread is coming up on its third year.