Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 2015, Vol. 31(1) 90–106 © 2014 SAGE Publications Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1043986214552619 ccj.sagepub.com Article Informal Social Control and Crime Events Elizabeth R. Groff 1 Abstract Informal social control at micro-level places such as addresses, collections of addresses, and streetblocks is a critical factor in understanding crime patterns. Historically, informal social control has been associated with community-level theories such as social disorganization, systemic theory, and collective efficacy. This article reviews several important streams of literature that address the role of informal social control in controlling crime at micro-level places. It begins with opportunity theories such as rational choice, routine activity, and crime pattern theories, which mention informal social control as playing a role in crime control. More detailed treatment of the role of informal social control is offered by theoretical work addressing “eyes on the street” and human territorial functioning. Together, these various theoretical perspectives provide the basis for the specification of mechanisms that reflect how informal social control can prevent crime events. The article explains each theory, discusses the spatial scale at which the dynamics operate, highlights gaps in the current body of knowledge, and proposes a two-pronged research path forward. Keywords informal social control, crime events, social disorganization, opportunity This article concentrates on informal social control and, in doing so, excludes control by formal agents of society such as law-enforcement-related personnel. As defined here, informal social control consists of the spectrum of actions taken by citizens to signal unacceptable behavior. Historically, informal social control has been associated with community-level theories. However, researchers have begun to acknowledge the existence of theoretical mechanisms operating at different levels of analysis as well as 1 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA Corresponding Author: Elizabeth R. Groff, Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, 531 Gladfelter Hall, 1511 Polett Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. Email: groff@temple.edu 552619CCJ XX X 10.1177/1043986214552619Journal of Contemporary Criminal JusticeGroff research-article 2014 by guest on November 17, 2016 ccj.sagepub.com Downloaded from