FED UP!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

I would appreciate any information that I can
get concerning my situatio, because I am at
wits end and the so called system has not
helped me in any way. It seems as if the kids have all the power and all the cards in thier favor. I have a 15 soon the be 16 year old daughter who is a habitual runaway
and she is of the mind that the system will not do anything to me because I am a minor.
This ordeal started last year may 99 when she got in trouble in school and got suspended after being back in school for only one week from a previous suspension when she decided not to come home at all with the urging of her friends she was gone two months the first time 3 months the second time and 2 months the third time and most recently she has been gone for a month. We file the appropriate missing persons form with the police and they tell you we won't
look for her but if we happen to pick her up we will call you ; well the last three times they picked her up and took her the runaway shelter and when I go down to pick her up she goes out of the bak door because it is a unsecured facility and the say they cannot make her stay but I am being held responsible for a child who makes it clear she does want to live here and will continue to run everychance she gets. The authorit-
ies say as long as she does not break any laws they cannot do anything. I want to know whats rights I have as a parent as far as having her declared an adult and she can finally get her liflong wish and me and the rest of my family can have peace of mind. Also the last time she left she threatened
to kill us all and the police says if she comes back just call us, well that might be to late for her or us. right now we just want a legal solution to it all once and for all. Child services have investigated and said the child is a problem not the parents
and they said sorry but its nothing we can
prosecute you if the child was being abused. Which has never been the case. She wants to be an adult and make adult decisions, and I want to give her her wish. Please help!!
any advice would be gratefully appreciated. thank you. tonyg

I am not a lawyer,but I believe there are Emancipation Laws. That allow you to let her be an adult. I don't know which state your in, I'm sure they are all different. I think the child has to be at least 16.
Also..Have you thought about having her judged as incorigible? (sp?)That way you would be released liability and she would prob. be sent to foster care or "ward of the court" kind of stuff. Again released from liability.
^Then there is always Salley Jessie Rafel! They may send her to bad kid boot camp!


[This message has been edited by terdad (edited February 28, 2000).]