Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

was just wondering if there is any legal action I can take against a sherriffs office for not responding to my calls to them that my 16 year old son has runaway. We have had a lot of trouble with our son since he was 14 including running away numerous times. On Feb. 14, 2013 he was taken into juvenile detention for 10 days for assault on my husband. He was released with conditions of the court that he be with parents if not at school. Back in Jan. 2013 we had reported him ad a runaway and were told he wold be entered into the narional database. They brought him home and we were told he was not listed as runaway. The very next day he ran away again and we called to report it. An officer came out and said they would enter him in the system as runaway. He was picked up in a bad neighborhood in a neighboring county on Saturday and they called us because they didnt know he was a runaway. He had not been placed in the system. About 20 min. after they brought him home he was gone again. I called the sherriffs office to report him as runaway and was told a deputy would give me a call. After not receiving a call after about 2 hours I called back again and was told the same thing.

I still have not heard from anyone from the sherriffs office. By this time there is no telling where he might be or what situations he is in. We live in Texas. Any advice?


Asked on 5/01/13, 7:23 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas Daley KoonsFuller PC

You probably can't sue the Sherriff's office due to the doctrine of sovereign immunity. You should call the Sherriff's office and see if there is a grievance process and proceed under it.

HOWEVER, it doesn't sound like there's much anyone can do with your son. You can't even keep him home for 20 minutes. What do you expect the Sherriff to do even if they do put him in a database?

I think you have more fundamental issues to resolve than suing the Sherriff.

I'm sorry you are having to endure this. Good luck!!

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Answered on 5/14/13, 8:50 pm


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