Asian Journal of Criminal Justice and Forensic Studies

“Asian Journal of Criminal Justice and Forensic Studies” is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. Suspected research or publication misconduct is assessed in accordance with the journal's policies and relevant guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Where concerns arise, the journal will assess the available evidence, provide the authors with an opportunity to respond and, where appropriate, seek information from relevant institutions or independent experts.

Concurrent and redundant submission

Manuscripts submitted to the journal must not be under consideration by another journal at the same time.

Authors must also disclose any previous publication or closely related manuscript that overlaps substantially with the submitted work.

Where concurrent submission, duplicate publication or substantial redundant publication is suspected, the Editorial Board will investigate the matter before taking editorial action.

A manuscript may be rejected where a significant breach is confirmed. If substantial duplication is identified after publication, the journal may issue a correction, notice of redundant publication or retraction, depending on the extent and significance of the overlap.

Citation manipulation

Citations must be included for legitimate scholarly reasons and must be relevant to the content of the manuscript.

The journal does not permit practices intended primarily to manipulate citation indicators, including inappropriate requests to cite particular authors, journals or publications without a valid scholarly justification.

Suspected citation manipulation will be investigated and may result in rejection of a submitted manuscript or appropriate post-publication action.

Fabrication, falsification and manipulation of data

Fabrication or falsification of research data, results, images or other research materials constitutes a serious breach of research integrity.

Images may be adjusted only where such adjustments do not misrepresent, obscure, remove or introduce information relevant to the interpretation of the results.

Where fabrication, falsification or inappropriate manipulation is confirmed before publication, the manuscript may be rejected. Where it is identified after publication and materially affects the reliability or integrity of the article, the journal may retract the article.

Corrections

A Correction will normally be published where an error or omission affects the accuracy, interpretation or completeness of an article but does not invalidate its principal findings.

Corrections may relate to errors introduced by either the authors or the journal.

Corrections may be initiated by authors, editors or readers. The Editorial Board will assess the significance of the reported error and determine whether a formal correction is required.

A formal Correction will:

• clearly identify the article being corrected;
• explain the nature of the error and the correction made;
• be linked electronically to the original article;
• be clearly identified as a Correction; and
• receive appropriate bibliographic identification, including a DOI where applicable.

Where technically possible, the original article will also contain a clear link to the Correction.

Minor typographical or formatting errors that do not affect the interpretation or integrity of the article may be corrected without a separate formal notice where appropriate.

Retractions

Retraction is used where an article contains serious problems that make its findings, conclusions or publication record unreliable or where publication constitutes a serious breach of research or publication ethics.

Grounds for retraction may include:

• clear evidence that the findings are unreliable as a result of fabrication, falsification, major error or inappropriate manipulation;
• plagiarism;
• substantial redundant or duplicate publication without appropriate disclosure or justification;
• serious unethical research;
• a materially compromised or manipulated peer review or publication process;
• serious legal or ethical problems that make continued reliance on the article inappropriate;
• other serious breaches that materially undermine the reliability or integrity of the publication.

Retraction decisions are made following appropriate editorial assessment and, where necessary, consultation with the authors, institutions or independent experts.

Authors may request retraction of their own article, but the final decision on whether a published article should be retracted rests with the journal.

A retraction may proceed even if one or more authors disagree with the decision where the available evidence demonstrates that retraction is necessary to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Retraction notices

Where an article is retracted:

• a separate Retraction notice will be published and permanently linked to the article;
• the notice will clearly identify the retracted article and explain the reason for the retraction;
• the notice will indicate who initiated or issued the retraction where appropriate;
• the Retraction notice will be freely accessible;
• the published article will remain available but will be clearly marked as retracted; and
• bibliographic and indexing information will be updated where technically possible.

A Retraction notice may be assigned its own DOI.

The purpose of a retraction is to correct the scholarly record rather than to punish authors.

Expression of concern

The journal may publish an Expression of Concern where substantial concerns have been raised about a published article but the available evidence is inconclusive, an investigation is ongoing, or a definitive editorial decision cannot yet be reached.

An Expression of Concern will be clearly identified and linked to the article concerned.

When the investigation is completed, the Expression of Concern may be followed by a Correction, Retraction or other appropriate editorial notice, or may remain as the final notice where appropriate.

Withdrawal of manuscripts

Authors may request withdrawal of a manuscript before publication by contacting the Editorial Office and explaining the reason for the request.

Where a manuscript has multiple authors, the Editorial Office may seek confirmation that all authors have been informed of or agree with the withdrawal.

Withdrawal of an unpublished manuscript is distinct from retraction of an article that has already been formally published.

The journal may retain confidential editorial records relating to withdrawn manuscripts for administrative, legal and research-integrity purposes.

Paper mills and systematic publication manipulation

The journal does not tolerate manuscripts or publications produced, sold or manipulated through paper mills or other organised fraudulent practices.

Where there is evidence that a manuscript or published article may form part of a broader pattern of coordinated publication manipulation, the Editorial Board may investigate related submissions and publications collectively while assessing the evidence relating to each individual article.

Confirmed cases may result in rejection, correction or retraction, as appropriate.

Where several related articles are retracted, each affected article should be clearly identified and linked to an appropriate retraction notice.

Use of artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence and generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors because responsibility and accountability for scholarly work must remain with human authors.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, citations and content of all material submitted to the journal, regardless of whether AI-assisted tools were used during preparation of the manuscript.

Use of generative AI or similar tools that materially contributes to the preparation of text, images, data analysis or other substantive content must be disclosed transparently in accordance with the journal's requirements.

AI-generated or AI-modified images, data or other research materials must not be presented in a manner that falsifies, fabricates or misrepresents research findings.

Failure to disclose relevant use of AI will be assessed according to its nature and effect on the integrity of the work. Undisclosed use of AI does not automatically result in retraction. However, where such use results in fabricated content, unreliable data, false citations, plagiarism, misrepresentation or another serious breach affecting the reliability of the published article, correction or retraction may be required.

Automated AI-detection tools may be used as one source of information during editorial assessment but should not, on their own, constitute conclusive evidence of misconduct.

Authorship and identity misrepresentation

The journal will investigate suspected authorship manipulation, fictitious identities, unauthorised use of another person's name or ORCID iD, undisclosed guest or ghost authorship, and other forms of identity misrepresentation.

Where an authorship problem does not affect the reliability or integrity of the article, it may be addressed through an authorship correction rather than retraction.

Where identity or authorship manipulation forms part of wider fraud, compromised peer review or other serious misconduct affecting the integrity of the publication, further action, including retraction, may be appropriate.

Removal of published content

Retracted articles normally remain publicly accessible as part of the scholarly record and are clearly marked as retracted.

Complete removal of an article or its content will be considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as where continued publication would violate applicable law, a court order, privacy or confidentiality obligations, or present a serious risk to individuals.

Where removal is necessary, a bibliographic record or explanatory notice should be retained where legally and technically possible.

Timeliness and transparency

The journal will seek to address credible concerns and implement Corrections, Expressions of Concern and Retractions without unnecessary delay.

The inability to obtain agreement from all authors will not prevent the journal from issuing an appropriate post-publication notice where this is necessary to maintain the integrity and accuracy of the scholarly record.