What type of violence can protective orders address, aside from family violence?

Protective orders are legal tools designed primarily to prevent further harm to an individual by restricting contact from an abuser or aggressor. While their primary focus is on family violence, they can also be utilized in addressing sexual assault and stalking, making them effective in providing protection in these scenarios.

When it comes to sexual assault, a protective order can create a legally enforced distance between the survivor and the perpetrator, thereby safeguarding the individual from further instances of violence or harassment. Similarly, stalking, which involves repeated and unwanted attention or contact that instills fear in the victim, is effectively managed through protective orders. These orders can mandate that the stalker ceases all forms of communication and stay away from the victim, thus significantly enhancing the victim's safety.

The other options listed, such as workplace harassment, discrimination claims, and traffic offenses, do not fall under the purview of traditional protective orders. Workplace harassment often requires different remedies, such as employer intervention or labor law processes, while discrimination claims typically involve civil rights litigation rather than protective orders. Traffic offenses are legal violations that are unrelated to personal safety and do not involve the same dynamics that protective orders are designed to address.