As an independent unit, the Department of Criminal Procedure was established in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine dated 18.01.2002 No. 47 “On the organization of personnel training at the National University of Internal Affairs” and the order of the Odesa Legal Institute of the National University of Internal Affairs dated 18.02.2002 No. 40 “On approval of the staff of the Odesa Law Institute of the National University of Internal Affairs” by reorganizing the Department of Criminal Procedure and Forensics into the Department of Criminal Procedure. In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine dated 16.06.2023, the Department of Criminal Procedure was reorganized into the Department of Criminal Procedure and Forensics. From 26.07.2024, the Department was designated as a structural unit of the Faculty of Training of Specialists for Units of Pre-Trial Investigation Bodies of the National Police of Ukraine.

The department is headed by Doctor of Law, Professor, Lieutenant Colonel of Police Hanna Teteriatnyk. In 2012, she defended her dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Law, in 2021 - a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Law, in 2022 she received the academic title of Professor. She heads the scientific school "Modern Trends in the Development of the Theory and Practice of Criminal Procedure". She is the guarantor of the educational and professional program "Law" of the first educational level. Laureate of the Award of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Young Scientists in 2022, a scholarship holder of the Scholarship of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for 2023 - 2025. She is the Deputy Chairman of the Specialized Academic Council for Awarding the Scientific Degree of Doctor of Sciences D 41.884.04, a member of the Specialized Academic Council for Awarding the Scientific Degree of Doctor of Sciences SRD 41.884.02.

The activities of the department are also provided by the full-time Doctor of Law, Professor Vladyslav Tarasenko, who is a member of the Specialized Academic Council for Awarding the Scientific Degree of Doctor of Sciences D 41.884.04, a member of the Specialized Academic Council for Awarding the Scientific Degree of Doctor of Sciences SRD 41.884.02. The Associate Professor of the Department, Candidate of Law, Associate Professor Dmytro Lisnichenko is the Academic Secretary of the Specialized Academic Council for Awarding the Scientific Degree of Doctor of Sciences SRD 41.884.02. The Department is staffed by a professor with many years of teaching experience, Candidate of Law, Associate Professor Mykola Yankovyi. The Associate Professors of the Department are also Candidate of Law, Associate Professor Hanna Mudretska, Candidate of Law, Major of Police Olena Marchenko, Candidate of Law Halyna Palamarchuk and Doctor of Philosophy Oleksandr Klymenko.

At the request of the Head Investigation Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the Investigation Department of the Head Office of National Police of the Odesa Region, the Department carries out practical developments to improve the activities of pre-trial investigation bodies, takes measures to implement positive experience of investigators and forensic units by organizing round tables, joint meetings, and teaching at advanced training courses.

Today, the Department of Criminal Procedure and Forensics is a specialized educational and scientific unit of the Odessa State University of Internal Affairs and provides educational, methodological, research and educational work in the educational institution.

One of the main areas of activity in the educational process is the preparation of future investigators for the investigation of war crimes, crimes committed under martial law.