(a) Any runaway seeking sanctuary may be given shelter for seventy-two (72) hours; provided, that:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 37-2-506

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Runaway: means any person under eighteen (18) years of age who is away from the home or residence of such person's parents or guardians without such parents' or guardians' consent. See Tennessee Code 37-2-502
  • Runaway house: means any house or institution giving sanctuary or housing to any person under eighteen (18) years of age, who is away from the home or residence of such person's parents or guardians without such parents' or guardians' consent. See Tennessee Code 37-2-502
  • Sanctuary: means a house, institution or other organization providing housing or accommodations to runaways as set forth in this part. See Tennessee Code 37-2-502
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) The runaway is not known to have committed, nor is under investigation for the commission of, a delinquent or criminal act;
(2) A good faith attempt is made to notify the juvenile court with jurisdiction in the county in which the runaway house is located, or the runaway’s parent or guardian, of the runaway’s location within one (1) hour of the runaway’s arrival; and
(3) No runaway admitted to a runaway house shall be removed during the seventy-two (72) hours of sanctuary other than by order of the juvenile court in the jurisdiction.
(b) Any juvenile judge in this or another state may release a runaway from a runaway house in another jurisdiction by contacting the juvenile judge having jurisdiction over the receiving runaway house.
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