{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-80-5-601","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 80-5-601","heading":"Harboring a runaway -- Reporting requirements -- Division of Child and Family Services to provide assistance -- Affirmative defense -- Providing shelter after notice.","body":"(1) As used in this section, \"harbor\" means to provide shelter in:\n(a) the home of the person who is providing shelter; or\n(b) any structure over which the person providing the shelter has any control.\n(2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the person:\n(a) knowingly and intentionally harbors a child;\n(b) knows at the time of harboring the child that the child is a runaway;\n(c) fails to notify one of the following, by telephone or other reasonable means, of the location of the child:\n(i) the parent or guardian of the child;\n(ii) the division; or\n(iii) a youth services center; and\n(d) fails to notify a person described in Subsection (2)(c) within eight hours after the later of:\n(i) the time that the person becomes aware that the child is a runaway; or\n(ii) the time that the person begins harboring the child.\n(3) A person described in Subsection (2) is not guilty of a violation of Subsection (2) and is not required to comply with Subsections (2)(c) and (d), if:\n(a)\n(i) a court order is issued authorizing a peace officer to take the child into custody; and\n(ii) the person notifies a peace officer, or the nearest detention facility, by telephone or other reasonable means, of the location of the child, within eight hours after the later of:\n(A) the time that the person becomes aware that the child is a runaway; or\n(B) the time that the person begins harboring the child; or\n(b)\n(i) the child is a runaway who consents to shelter, care, or licensed services under Section 80-5-602; and\n(ii)\n(A) the person is unable to locate the child's parent or guardian; or\n(B) the child refuses to disclose the contact information for the child's parent or guardian.\n(4) A person described in Subsection (2) shall provide a report to the division:\n(a) if the person has an obligation under Section 80-2-602 to report child abuse or neglect; or\n(b) if, within 48 hours after the person begins harboring the child:\n(i) the person continues to harbor the child; and\n(ii) the person does not make direct contact with:\n(A) a parent or guardian of the child;\n(B) the division;\n(C) a youth services center; or\n(D) a peace officer or the nearest detention facility if a court order is issued authorizing a peace officer to take the child into custody.\n(5) It is an affirmative defense to the crime described in Subsection (2) that:\n(a) the person failed to provide notice as described in Subsection (2) or (3) due to circumstances beyond the control of the person providing the shelter; and\n(b) the person provided the notice described in Subsection (2) or (3) as soon as it was reasonably practicable to provide the notice.\n(6) Upon receipt of a report that a runaway is being harbored by a person:\n(a) a youth services center shall:\n(i) notify the runaway's parent or guardian that a report has been made; and\n(ii) inform the runaway's parent or guardian of assistance available from the youth services center; or\n(b) the division shall:\n(i) make a referral to the Division of Child and Family Services to determine whether the runaway is abused, neglected, or dependent; and\n(ii) if appropriate, make a referral for services for the runaway.\n(7)\n(a) A parent or guardian of a runaway who is aware that the runaway is being harbored may notify a law enforcement agency and request assistance in retrieving the runaway.\n(b) The local law enforcement agency may assist the parent or guardian in retrieving the runaway.\n(8) Nothing in this section prohibits a person from continuing to provide shelter to a runaway, after giving the notice described in Subsections (2) through (4), if:\n(a) a parent or guardian of the runaway consents to the continued provision of shelter; or\n(b) a peace officer or a parent or guardian of the runaway fails to retrieve the runaway.\n(9) Nothing in this section prohibits a person from providing shelter to a child whose parent or guardian has intentionally:\n(a) ceased to maintain physical custody of the child; and\n(b) failed to make reasonable arrangements for the safety, care, and physical custody of the child.\n(10) Nothing in this section prohibits:\n(a) a juvenile receiving center or a youth services center from providing shelter to a runaway in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and the rules relating to a juvenile receiving center or a youth services center; or\n(b) a government agency from taking custody of a child as otherwise provided by law.","path":["Title 80 Utah Juvenile Code","Chapter 80-5 Juvenile Justice Services","Part 80-5-6 Runaways and Ungovernable Children"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title80/Chapter5/80-5-S601.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:34Z","sha256":"a784f965c578f4c381f6b3d31e7c048cc6cc791b3170585986c53357cc756ee4","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-80-5-503","next":"us-ut/utah-code-80-5-602"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}