Runaway Juveniles:
· HABITS: Keep track of your children’s habits. Do they usually take a backpack with them? Do you know the type of clothing they have in their closet? This can determine the difference between a runaway or suspicious circumstance. If a child is missing, and all belongings are still at home, it becomes more suspicious. If you see your child’s backpack is gone, along with all their favorite clothing, make-up, music tapes, c.d.’s, etc., it is more likely a voluntarily runaway.
· FRIENDS: Know your children’s friends. Most missing and runaway children are found at a friend’s house. If you have the names and addresses of your children’s friends, it makes our search much quicker. If you do not know the addresses of your children’s friends, have them write them down, or find out yourself and write it down. They might come handy one day.
· ASSISTANCE: Call the police for assistance with a runaway, even if you know their whereabouts. Do not try to get your child back yourself. You might be breaking the law yourself. There are a lot of states with some sort of crisis shelters for runaway juveniles. Somewhere where juveniles can go while parents and kids cool off. Instead of running away, the kids can go to these safe houses where there are licensed counselors staffing the house 24 hours a day. They can provide counseling for both teens and parents, and at least they are in a safe environment where parents don’t have to worry. There are requirements though, both parent and teen must agree to this, no violent teens, no drug or alcohol-impaired teens, etc. And these are only temporary shelters, usually only up to a few days. But it could be a start to a better relationship with your child. Call your local police department or juvenile facility for information.
· OFFICER FRIENDLY: Make sure your children trust the police. A lot of children are afraid of police from something mom or dad innocently said in a store or somewhere when they saw a cop. (be good, or that policeman is going to take you to jail, put that candy bar back, or I’ll have that policeman take you away, etc.) If your child is missing, or worse abducted, the last thing you want is for your child to be afraid of the police. I have seen children duck into bushes and hide as I go by, only to find out later on that one of the children was the one we were searching for. Make sure your children are officer friendly. Almost all cops love the opportunity to shake a child’s hand, hand out a plastic badge or cop trading card, or just make a friend.
