This chapter examines the concepts of crime (i.e., acts or omissions defined by law as violations of societal rules and punishable by formal sanctions) and conformity (i.e., alignment of behavior with shared social norms and expectations). We begin by outlining the historical foundations of crime by first examining its underlying causes and key patterns and trends observed across the continent. The chapter then analyzes both formal and informal mechanisms of social control, with particular attention to the major constraints to conformity arising from the continent’s diverse societal norms and governance structures. We open the chapter by offering a conceptualization of crime.