Odată cu dezvoltarea statului a avut loc şi o schimbare a modalităţilor de soluţionare a cauzelor penale. Astfel, pe parcursul diferitelor perioade de dezvoltare ale statului, constatăm diverse forme ale procesului penal. Primii care au studiat formele procesului penal au fost savanţii Biner, Abegg, Gartung, Valter, Planc. Ei au arătat caracteristicile formelor contradictoriale (acuzatoriale), inchizitoriale şi mixte ale procesului penal şi le-au definit.

Along with the development of the state there was also a change in the ways of solving the criminal cases, so during different periods of state development we find different forms of the criminal process. The first to study the forms of the criminal trial were the scientists Biner, Abegg, Gartung, Valter, Planc. They have shown the characteristics of the contradictory (accusatory), inquisitorial and mixed forms of the criminal process and have characterized them.