The particular importance of resolving pressing practical issues and vital problems has led to the active development of legal psychology. Legal psychology is currently a rapidly developing branch of psychological science, formed at the intersection of key and fundamental scientific fields, one of which studies the individual and their behavior — psychology and the other studies law. The relevance of this study stems from the high demand and necessity for psychological knowledge in modern life, especially when theoretical developments are applied to practical tasks. Understanding the origins, formation, and evolution of the field of legal psychology can contribute to the discovery and understanding of the significance of psychological knowledge, which serves as a link to the legal system. In analyzing the issues under consideration, the author concludes that in the Russian Empire in the mid-19th century, experimental pilot projects devoted to the study of issues and phenomena related to legal psychology began to gain momentum. Among other things, various aspects of the subject matter were explored, which remain relevant today.