N.Y. Family Court Act § 718: Return of run away

§ 718. Return of run away. (a) A peace officer, acting pursuant to

such peace officer's special duties, or a police officer may return to a

parent or other person legally responsible for such child's care any

child under the age of eighteen who has run away from home without just

cause or who, in the reasonable conclusion of the officer, appears to

have run away from home without just cause. For purposes of this action,

a police officer or peace officer may reasonably conclude that a child

has run away from home when the child refuses to give his or her name or

the name and address of a parent or other person legally responsible for

such child's care or when the officer has reason to doubt that the name

or address given are the actual name and address of the parent or other

person legally responsible for the child's care.

(b) A peace officer, acting pursuant to the peace officer's special

duties, or a police officer is authorized to take a youth who has run

away from home or who, in the reasonable opinion of the officer, appears

to have run away from home, to a facility certified or approved for such

purpose by the office of children and family services, if the peace

officer or police officer is unable, or if it is unsafe, to return the

youth to his or her home or to the custody of his or her parent or other

person legally responsible for his or her care. Any such facility

receiving a youth shall inform a parent or other person responsible for

such youth's care.

(c) If a child placed pursuant to this article in the custody of a

commissioner of social services or an authorized agency shall run away

from the custody of such commissioner or authorized agency, any peace

officer, acting pursuant to his special duties, or police officer may

apprehend, restrain, and return such child to such location as such

commissioner shall direct or to such authorized agency and it shall be

the duty of any such officer to assist any representative of the

commissioner or agency to take into custody any such child upon the

request of such representative.