VOL. XV, NO. 2
OCTOBER 26, 1973
Legal Action Line
Q. What action can be taken against a runaway?
Oak Lawn H.S.
A. The parents of the runaway can report the child to the police and have him picked up as "a minor otherwise in need of supervision," which the law defines as any kid under 18 who is beyond control of his parents or guardian. The child would then go before a judge in Juvenile Court for a hearing. If the court decided that the child was in need of supervision, the runaway could be:
1) taken away from his parents placed in the care of some other relative,
2) put under the guardianship of a probation officer,
3) placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services, which would send him to a children's home or a foster family,
Oak Lawn H.S.
A. The parents of the runaway can report the child to the police and have him picked up as "a minor otherwise in need of supervision," which the law defines as any kid under 18 who is beyond control of his parents or guardian. The child would then go before a judge in Juvenile Court for a hearing. If the court decided that the child was in need of supervision, the runaway could be:
1) taken away from his parents placed in the care of some other relative,
2) put under the guardianship of a probation officer,
3) placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services, which would send him to a children's home or a foster family,
Of course, the sentence will depend in large part on how many times the child has run away. A first offender, in most cases, will simply be sent back home with a warning not to do it again. Chronic runaways face stiffer penalties.
It is also possible that a runaway could be charged as a "delinquent minor," if the city or village where he lives has a specific ordinance against running away from home. Still another possibility would be to charge the parents of the runaway with neglect.
Have a question? Legal Action Line will try to get you an answer. Submit questions on any legal subject to Mr. George Walker in R-210 or any member of the Westerner staff, or mail them to Mr. George Martin, Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc., 19 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, 60603.
It is also possible that a runaway could be charged as a "delinquent minor," if the city or village where he lives has a specific ordinance against running away from home. Still another possibility would be to charge the parents of the runaway with neglect.
Have a question? Legal Action Line will try to get you an answer. Submit questions on any legal subject to Mr. George Walker in R-210 or any member of the Westerner staff, or mail them to Mr. George Martin, Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc., 19 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, 60603.
