Troy Kell: A Sociological Analysis

Troy Kell was 18 years old when he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. He made poor choices that would affect him for the remainder of his life. Not only did he ruin his life outside of prison, but his poor choice making followed him into the prison where he committed his second murder. Troy Kell went into prison with the mentality that nothing and no one would break him down. He said he was going to prison as a man and walk out as a man. Immediately after being in prison Kell begins to associate himself with a group of white supremacist. These men become his reference group. A group that he will compare back to and try to live up to. Kell also falls into two different types of theory's, control theory and labeling theory, that explain the reasons behinds his actions. As a child, Troy Kell grew up within a single parent household. According to those who knew him growing up, living with his dad wasn't the easiest thing for him. There were assumptions that Kell's dad was abusive and strict, which could have been the reason why his mother never came around. Those who grow up in single parent households grow up not knowing what love and affection is. As a kid especially, …show more content…
Which is the idea that two control systems such as inner and outer work against our tendencies to deviate. Our inner groups are our morality, how and why we choose to do things. Then our outer groups are our family, friends, and the police. Kell lacked in both. He didn't like the authoritarian leaders, and growing up within a single parent household caused him to have a different type of mentality. His right and wrong was different from someone who grew u with both parents around. Thus Kell killing both men was a lack of self control. He couldn't control his feelings, in fact he let the anger build up which potentially ended up in the death of both