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Runaway laws for youth should be abolished

Hello all, Luvx, best of luck. O my brothers, Little Jimmy was 14 when his mother stuck him undeservingly. Jimmy facing intense pressure and stress at home decided to fly the coup. Where he was going, he could not say... Years later he is living in the slums selling drugs to make a buck. Never knowing the life he could have had if he just persevered or found help. Little Jimmy could never understand that the laws and rules in society were there to protect his best interests. The intrinsic truth of adolescents is they cant possibly conceive or understand the importance of the rules and regulations of our system. Although, the circumstances that they are reluctantly forced upon are unfair and harsh, in many cases, it still beats the streets. The reason for most runaways is a dysfunctional family; problems for young adults may include neglect, divorce or abuse, but even so many teens who leave their home end up living in poverty, malnourished and uneducated. Statistics show that runaway teenagers are at a higher risk of being involved with prostitution and alcohol and drug abuse. An equal important matter is that few places in America actually consider the act 'illegal.' Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming, consider running away from home a status offense. In which the runaways in theses districts that are apprehended are tried before a judge as a delinquent or a child in need of services (CHINS) and for the most part these youths will be held in custody until they are of age or relocated to a foster home. Other punishments include probation and a suspended drivers license-nothing more that a slap on the wrist, in my opinion-. The only punishment being that many foster homes maintain even worse conditions for theses youths then their previous homes. Accordingly, perhaps it would be better if more places considered running away an offense, maybe a universal law would educate individuals and there adolescents the dangers of poverty. According the US department of Justice, an estimated 797,500 youths under 18 went missing last year, not including the parents who don't give a crap that there kid is missing and are to lazy to report it. The truth is whether its illegal or not, the government should be making more of an effort to reach these adolescents, providing programs such as talk lines or abuse prevention groups. My concluding point will be, if the intimidating shadow of the Law can save one youth from going running away and ending up a missing persons case, its worth it. These kids need to learn structure; the importance of rules and regulations. Life isn't fair and even though laws are naturally oppressive of true liberty they work to protect society and its best interests. Finally, If you could I would like if you expanded on your statement "To evade capture by the authorities under terms of runaway laws, some youth will turn to the crime." As it is unsupported and vague. Thank you Luvx, I look forward to your retort. XosL3git- "Here's looking at you kid."