Cops and Runaway Juveniles - What do you do about them?

[FourTenJaeger]

As you may or may not know - LV has a bit of an 'issue' with Runaway kids, Usually coming here from other states, or other parts of the state.

I have began to notice congregations of them growing around my property and it got me curious as to how the law handles it. They are juveniles - But they are also runaways. Are they taken into custody and returned home, or only if they have broken the law?

The majority of them look between 15-17, Most certainly not 'children', But not quite 'adults.'

Is 17 close enough to 18 that it dosen't really matter?

They don't bother me and keep to themselves, for the most part, Simply curious.

[SoCalDep]

Here is my chance to rant. Yay.

I'm a cop. Been a cop a while. I'm also a foster parent. We are trying to adopt.

I thought I hated the system before, but just like Doc Holliday in the movie
"Tombstone"...No...I'm sure of it...I hate him! (The system).

I have found that our system and laws exist to keep the judicial system and all the jobs (lawyers and judges) going. While the charade is that it is for the welfare of the children, that is complete BS. If the word filter would let me I'd spell it out. Social workers start out thinking they are going to do such good and fix things. Then they realize what the system really does to children and they either quit or become pretty much suicidal. I've never met a happy experienced social worker. I used to think they were all jerks. Now I know. They are just completely screwed up from seeing child after child destroyed.

For half the kids out there today I'd be halfway tempted to tell them to just run away... The system is set up to put them back into dangerous and traumatic situations over and over. But I can't.

I'm sort of glad I'm off the streets for now because having seen what I've seen from both ends of the spectrum I'm not sure I could remain objective.

I'm devastated by what the system is doing to two beautiful girls that I was sure were going to be my daughters. I pictured myself walking them down the aisle. I never wanted to do this having seen what I've seen, but I love them...And the system could give a damn. The social workers are doing their best but the system is set up to keep the girls down... to keep the cycle of drugs, prostitution, violence, and general apathy going. If they go back (and against all common sense, based on a technicality it seems they likely will) I can only hope they run away.

To answer your question, they will, if contacted, likely be taken into protective custody (In CA it's called being "detained") and returned home.

If they are bothering you or causing trouble then you need to call. The problem will only get worse. I will say I very much fear what home they would be returned to.

[Tripper]

umm, good luck to you and the girls, hope it works out..

[Off the Roster]

always a slippery slope - for teens on the street there is safety in numbers. that said, there is also the potential for a drug/prostitution situation to evolve or exist as well. when i worked at a home for run aways the biggest reason kids hit the street were because their mom's had started a new relationship and the guy didnt like/or was inappropriate towards them and leaving home was the lesser of the 2 evils for the teen.

if the encampment is not causing problems i would suggest contacting one of LV's homeless outreach programs and alerting them to the location. chances are none of the kids wants "saving" from the street but there is always an exception to the rule somewhere.

[vintagearms]

Here is my chance to rant. Yay.

I'm a cop. Been a cop a while. I'm also a foster parent. We are trying to adopt.

I thought I hated the system before, but just like Doc Holliday in the movie
"Tombstone"...No...I'm sure of it...I hate him! (The system).

I have found that our system and laws exist to keep the judicial system and all the jobs (lawyers and judges) going. While the charade is that it is for the welfare of the children, that is complete BS. If the word filter would let me I'd spell it out. Social workers start out thinking they are going to do such good and fix things. Then they realize what the system really does to children and they either quit or become pretty much suicidal. I've never met a happy experienced social worker. I used to think they were all jerks. Now I know. They are just completely screwed up from seeing child after child destroyed.

For half the kids out there today I'd be halfway tempted to tell them to just run away... The system is set up to put them back into dangerous and traumatic situations over and over. But I can't.

I'm sort of glad I'm off the streets for now because having seen what I've seen from both ends of the spectrum I'm not sure I could remain objective.

I'm devastated by what the system is doing to two beautiful girls that I was sure were going to be my daughters. I pictured myself walking them down the aisle. I never wanted to do this having seen what I've seen, but I love them...And the system could give a damn. The social workers are doing their best but the system is set up to keep the girls down... to keep the cycle of drugs, prostitution, violence, and general apathy going.

Former LEO, also Foster parent and also looking to adopt. Not sure what County you are in, but ask your Mentor (I'll assume you have one) that you wish to do a Best Match. If you don't have a Mentor, get a hold of your Placement Coordinator and ask her to do one. I'm in Ventura County, so if you need any assistance, PM me.

[Pryde]

I used to see them fairly often. What happens is they are usually picked up during police contact due to some sort of criminal or suspicious association. Often they are not charged but are detained in juvenile hall for a few days until they can be sent back to the parent or if there is no parent around they are sent to child services. In your case, the local authorities would arrange a transfer of the minor back to the home county and they would be processed there assuming the local authorities are not planning on pressing charges.

So to answer your question, they usually run free and are pretty much ignored until they inevitably encounter LEO for one reason or another, then they are processed through the system and sent home. The more saavy and determined ones probably spend years on the streets (keeping themselves fed through theft and prostitution) before they are ever caught.

[FourTenJaeger]

Westcare youth center does a decent job of caring for them, But the cycle continues.

Pretty much figured that they would be spun like sand and wheels until they were spit out at 18 - If they haven't been destroyed by the system, To be set up to fail.

[mixicus]

On contact, any violation (curfew, open container, drugs,...) is handled regardless if they are a 'missing' or not. If they are in the system as a 'missing', they are detained regardless if there are separate charges or not. If a parent/guardian can respond in a resonable time frame, they stay at the station. If it's a long response time (many hours or days), they are transfered to another facility.

[RDT72]

Usually if a child or adult is reported missing they are entered into a nationwide computer bank called Missing or Unidentified Persons System (MUPS) depending on several factors the proactive search for the person will end at varying times, but the entry into MUPS does not go away. I have had a couple incidents where while contacting a subject they are found to be in MUPS. If the person is now an adult and they don't wish to notify the person(s) who reported them missing that is his/her right as an adul. The subject is subsequently removed from MUPS and the reporter is advised they have been removed from the system but no further information is given. If the missing person is found and still underage the authorites notify the person who reported them missing and try to arrange that person to come pick up the runaway. If the juvenile runaway crossed state lines the authorities usually try to house them at a Child Protective Services or related entity. Then the MUPS entry is removed once the runaway is turned over to a responsible entity/person. This is a general summary of what happens with older teenage runaways. Many other factors may change how these incidents are handled especially if the runaway is under a certain age.