Monster begins with the lament of a 16-year-old boy after seven months in prison, and the depiction of the criminal justice and carceral system that follows shows brutality and cruelty. From the casual, likely illegal arrest Steve experiences, to the daily terror of potential physical or sexual assault, to the brutality and humiliation provided by prison guards, Steve and every other prisoner in the Manhattan Detention Center facility is subject to constant mental and physical degradation.

Myers makes a case that the dehumanizing of inmates—whether convicted criminals or prisoners waiting to be tried—is an inherent part of the criminal justice system. The best example of this in the story may be in the opening arguments of the prosecutor, who refers to the accused as monsters. Even though Steve is eventually acquitted, he finds that this label has left a deep psychic impact. Myers implies that the impact of Steve’s experience will last long after his release. Steve knows, whether he learns to accept himself or not, his months in prison have changed him negatively in the sight of his family and community forever. The reader suspects that this is true for many other prisoners, many of whom lament how the judicial system has a permanent, arbitrary hold on their lives irrespective of their guilt or innocence.