The Department of Criminal Procedure and Organisation of Pre-trial Investigation is one of the leading departments that is part of the Educational and Research Institute No. 1 of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs.

The history of the department dates back to 1992. During this time, it was headed by: Candidate of Law, Associate Professor, Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine, Colonel of Police Kozhevnikov G.K.; Candidate of Law, Associate Professor, Colonel of Police Kuzminova V.Y.; Doctor of Law, Professor, Colonel of Police Slinko S. V.; Doctor of Law, Professor, Colonel of Police O. O. Yukhno; Candidate of Law, Associate Professor, Lieutenant Colonel of Police V. V. Romaniuk. Since 2023, the Department has been headed by Doctor of Law, Professor, Major of Police Tetiana Fomina.

The department employs 11 research and teaching staff, 9 of whom have academic degrees:

• 3 Doctors of Law;
• 6 Candidates of Law.

All staff members have practical experience, including senior positions in the investigative units of the National Police and the Prosecutor's Office.

Scientific work

The scientists of the Department are actively involved in scientific and lawmaking activities, namely: they are co-authors of the first Scientific and Practical Commentary on the current CPC of Ukraine, to which they systematically provide proposals for amendments and additions; more than 20 monographs, 19 textbooks, 24 scientific explanations have been published; 7 doctoral and more than 22 PhD theses have been defended. After the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, he co-authored a scientific and practical commentary on Section IX-1 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.

The academic staff of the Department provides scientific guidance (counselling) to adjuncts, postgraduate students and doctoral students working on dissertation research.

The Department of Criminal Procedure and Organisation of Pre-trial Investigation of the Institute of Law has a scientific club headed by Professor Oksana Pchelina, Doctor of Law, Professor. At the meetings of the club, topical issues of criminal procedure science that require attention and research by young scientists are discussed. Particular attention is paid to problematic issues of pre-trial investigation under martial law.

The members of the group are winners of the competition of research papers of first (bachelor's) degree students of higher education institutions belonging to the sphere of management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine; the All-Ukrainian competition of research papers of cadets, trainees and students of higher education institutions with specific learning conditions, as well as the competition of research papers ‘Young Science of Kharkiv Region: Vectors of Development’ of the Council of Young Scientists at the Kharkiv Regional State Administration.

Educational and methodical work

The academic staff of the Department ensures the educational process in all educational and research institutes of the University. The following disciplines are taught at the Department:

• Actual problems of application of criminal procedure legislation;

• Actual problems of application of criminal procedure;

• Interaction of pre-trial investigation bodies with operational units and other law enforcement agencies in combating criminal offences;

• Inquiries;

• Evidence and proof;

• Pre-trial investigation;

• Measures to ensure criminal proceedings;

• Criminal procedure;

• Criminal justice: legal doctrines and principles of lawmaking;

• Criminal, criminal procedure and administrative procedure legislation;

• Criminal proceedings involving minors;

• Organisation and interaction in the activities of pre-trial investigation bodies;

• Preparation of procedural documents at the stage of pre-trial investigation.

The academic staff of the Department has developed a computer programme ‘Training URPTI’, which helps cadets to acquire practical skills of the future profession of investigator and detective.

The permanent staff of the Department maintains close ties with the practical units of the National Police by: participating in joint seminars, conducting binary classes, involvement in the certification of higher education students, defending practice materials and internships. The staff of the Department has developed more than 40 scientific and methodological recommendations for pre-trial investigation units at the request of the Main Department of the National Police of Ukraine. The Department interacts and cooperates with other higher education institutions, including those of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

Organizational work

The staff of the Department regularly conducts educational (supervisory) work with the cadets of the Educational and Research Institute No. 1, as well as career guidance and legal education work with students of secondary schools, colleges and other educational institutions.