Is it illegal to throw your kid out of the house (not on house property) as a disciplinary course of action? ?

Question

This happened to one of my friends and he's too scared to well ya... I'm asking this for him due to him not having internet access. BTW all he did was doing his homework (like everyone is supposed) and it was the day before our finals. His parents wanted him to spend time with them for some strange dinner thing, but his parents had always shoved it down him that school is the absolute most important thing in the world. With that in mind he refused and kept refusing due to him studying for finals, but his parents wouldn't accept him not going. They got fed up and his dad start hitting him with one of my friend's textbooks. They dragged him out of his study room and threw him out of the house with no food. I live about 6 miles away from him and he came to my house that day about really late at night and it's really dangerous in my area. Of course I let him in and I asked what happened. He seemed really, really scared and shocked about it. He stayed with my family for about a week (we know him very well and we were glad to help him). He decided to go back and his parents wouldn't let him back in. So we had to take him in for a while longer. Eventually he got back home, but his parents took away everything that he thought entertaining (books, video games, his T.V., etc.) regardless of him getting near perfect scores on the finals. My friend is really afraid of his parents now and I just want to know if what they did was illegal and if anyone can give me a website or anything that can help his mental state of mind that'd be very appreciated as well.

Answer 1

Story seems 1 sided a bit.  

If he is a minor, they can't 'throw him out'.  They are responsible for him until he is 18 or whatever the legal age is for that state.

Answer 2

Well that story actually kinda seems like a tall tale I don't really think everything about it is true..especially the reason you give for him being kicked i mean doing homework is not a reason for your parents to hit you with books and kick you out especially if they've always wanted you to do good in school missing a dinner is not something to kick your kid out about unless it had something to do with his future maybe...

But yes it is illegal to kick your kid out of the house without the intention of getting them some place else to the live (with one his relatives), and doing all the proper paper work to show they are surrendering him to them.

Answer 3

I agree with Mrs.S parents do just do that especially knowing that they could get in serious trouble.

Answer 4

I don't think your friend is being entirely honest with you.  I don't believe the reasons for him being "thrown out".  

Its illegal to throw a minor out into the street with no food or shelter.  

Answer 5

I would tell your friend to talk to a counseler at school or maybe even contact CPS. I don't think it is legal to just abandon your child like that. If your friend is too scared to do that you should step up and do it for him. First of all his parents should not be hitting him with a textbook, that is just wrong. But to kick him out with no food or shelter is just plain abandonment and bad parenting. Your parents should know what to do and help!

Answer 6

If he is underage, the parental action amounts to child abandonment.

Your parents should contact child service/protective agency in your area.  Agency will probably not give credence if you (a minor) report the situation.