Courts almost always issue a temporary Order of Protection (restraining order) at the arraignment. A 'full stay-away' order means you cannot contact the protected party at all, even if you live together. Violating this is a separate crime.

The arraignment is your first court appearance where you are officially informed of the charges. The judge will decide on bail or release conditions (ROR). It is crucial to have an attorney at this stage to argue for your release.

Certain charges, particularly federal drug trafficking and crimes involving firearms (like 924(c)), carry mandatory minimums (e.g., 5, 10, or 20 years) that a judge cannot go below unless specific narrow exceptions apply.