Definition: crippleness is a term used in criminal justice to describe the degree of difficulty or severity of punishment for a crime. It refers to the extent to which an individual's actions warrant harsher penalties than others, such as someone who commits multiple offenses or has prior convictions. The term "crippleness" was coined by the author and illustrator of the graphic novel "The Black Cat," and it is often used in discussions about the impact of crime on society.