Studies of public opinion have long been an integral part of the criminological enterprise, especially given the growing evidence that such sentiments influence police and court decision-making as well as criminal justice policy. With the advent of opt-in surveys (e.g., MTurk, Lucid, YouGov), scholars have moved beyond the use of extant national surveys (e.g., the GSS) and convenience samples (e.g., college students, local communities) to conduct studies based on primary data.  Increasingly sophisticated studies (e.g., using experiments) are proliferating in the social sciences generally and within criminology in particular. This research has focused on crucial policy issues, including studies on racial attitudes and policy preferences in corrections and policing. Furthermore, opinion research has implications for scholars’ involvement in public criminology, given that the “will of the people” potentially informs policy debates, including showing the progressive possibilities endorsed by the public. However, there was no current home for the various scholars working in the area of public opinion. Thus, the idea for the creation of the Division of Public Opinion & Policy was born in March 2021.