The author's course of lectures discusses seven topics that, in the author's opinion, constitute the foundations of the science and academic discipline of forensics: introduction to forensics; the doctrine of traces; forensic recognition (diagnosis and identification); versions and planning of procedural crime research; the fundamentals of forensic technology, tactics and methods for investigating crimes. The third edition comprehensively takes into account the changes and innovations made to criminal procedure legislation. The content of the course corresponds to the state educational standard of higher professional education in specialty 021100 - jurisprudence and the discipline of OPF. F. 13 – criminology. The publication is intended for students and graduate students of law universities and faculties, as well as for employees of criminal justice agencies.