YouTube: Where modern criminals do time

Some progressive judges really like to make the punishment fit the crime. You've probably heard of shoplifters forced to wear sandwich boards reading "I am a shoplifter" and stand outside the store they stole from. Now that jurisprudent mentality comes to the web generation: A Florida judge has sentenced two boys to use YouTube to apologize for the crime they originally posted to the popular video sharing website.

The two boys being sentenced were guilty of a prank called "fire in the hole," in which a large cup of soda and ice is thrown through the window at a fast food restaurant, dousing (and potentially injuring) the cashier. Videos of similar pranks have been an online staple for months. 

Filming criminal activities and posting them on the web has become a booming phenomenon, while also being one of the outright stupidest. Documenting illegal activities for the world (and the police) to see and posting them in a way where they're traceable back to the poster? Pure genius. In this case, the two kids had linked the video to their MySpace accounts, which made them even easier to nab. You may also recall the recent case of a group of Florida teenagers who beat up a classmate so they could post a video of the attack on the web. They were also busted in short order.

The juvies' apology is now online and available for viewing. Check it out here, but I'll warn you, it ain't Scorsese. The video also notes that, in addition to the apology, the boys were sentenced to pay damages (well, $30 each) and perform 100 hours of community service. Was justice served? Well, it's a start.