The textbook, in accordance with the curriculum, reveals the basic concepts of general, legal, criminal and forensic psychology. Unlike other similar publications, it sets out in detail the general psychological foundations of legal psychology, reveals the psychological characteristics of criminals of various categories, the psychology of the cognitive-search activity of the investigator in information-deficient situations; The problems of establishing psychological contact with participants in criminal proceedings are discussed in detail. For the first time, a chapter on the psychology of civil proceedings has been introduced into the textbook. For students, teachers of law schools, law enforcement officials, as well as those interested in problems of general and applied psychology.