What do you do with a runaway?

• A. Investigate and release after warning.
• B. Charge them with a status offense.
• C. Take them into custody.
• D. Return them to school.

Answer: (C)

When a runaway is encountered, the priority is the juvenile’s safety and welfare. The appropriate response is to place the minor in protective custody, not to treat the act as a criminal offense. Taking them into custody allows the officer to quickly locate the parent or guardian, assess the youth’s safety and needs, and coordinate with juvenile services or intake for the next steps. This custody is about protection and services, not punishment, and it sets up the proper path—contacting the family, arranging safe return, or pursuing appropriate CHIPS/juvenile services if needed. Simply investigating and warning, charging the runaway with a status offense, or returning them to school without addressing safety and family contact fails to address the immediate welfare and may miss opportunities to connect the juvenile with needed support.