J. Barrett Hawkins is a member of a juvenile delinquency/crime prevention organization named CROP where at risk youth are brought into Donovan State Prison in San Diego to hear criminals speak about crime, gang, self-esteem and prison life. In this book Hawkins describes three true crimes stories and a program that will assist parents in developing their child’s self-esteem.

First, Hawkins discusses his involvement in a million dollar insurance fraud that he believed would be a victimless, white-collar crime, and explains how that scheme was directly responsible for the murder of an innocent man. You will learn that there is no such thing as a victimless crime. Hawkins also talks about his attempted suicide. This segment concludes with an illuminating discussion on the “near death experience”. You’ll find convincing scientific evidence that the soul lives on following the body’s death.

Hawkins continues his story about life in prison, including the frightening story of a 300-man prison race riot..

Next, Hawkins relays the story of how 16-year old honor student Diego Jones turns into a gang member who is now serving a 50-year to life prison sentence for a double homicide. Jones gut-wrenching story revolves around a deadly shoot-out between rival gang members.

The third true crime story is that of Joe Jackson who the FBI dubbed “The Gentleman Bank Robber.” Jackson is a classic drug story in that alcohol and marijuana use become the gateway to a serious cocaine addiction. In order to get the money needed to pay for the drugs, Jackson commits a series of bank robberies.

The stories of Jones and Jackson serve as a prelude to a discussion on developing self-esteem. In the final part of "The Dirty Nasty Truth" you will learn that the primary reason why teenagers join gangs, use drugs or engage in criminal behavior is because they suffer from low self-esteem. Hawkins shares insight from his 10-years study of developing self-esteem, discovering purpose in life and fulfilling one’s dreams. The book concludes with Hawkins describing the qualities, behaviors and success secrets of some of the world’s top achievers.

Lastly, an in-dept discussion on low self-esteem – the primary cause of juvenile delinquency – and a 10-step plan for building self-esteem.

Also available as a Audio CD set

John Hawkin's author royalties from sales of "The Dirty Nasty Truth" will be paid directly to a fund for victims of violent crimes.