Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, and plagiarism at any stage of conducting, reviewing, documenting, writing, or reporting research. When authors are implicated in research misconduct or serious irregularities are identified in an article published in the Indonesian Journal of Criminal Law Studies (IJCLS), the Editors are responsible for protecting the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

In handling allegations, the Editors and Editorial Board follow the Core Practices and guidance issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure that complaints are assessed fairly and that potential misconduct is addressed consistently. Manuscripts found to involve misconduct will be rejected. If a published article is found to involve misconduct, the journal may issue a retraction notice linked to the original publication, as appropriate.

Handling an Allegation

1. Initial Assessment

The Editors assess whether the allegation is sufficiently substantiated and falls within the scope of research misconduct. They also consider whether the complainant has any conflict of interest that could affect the assessment.

2. Notice to the Authors

When potential misconduct or a serious irregularity is identified, the corresponding author is informed of the allegation and invited to provide a detailed response on behalf of all co-authors.

3. Further Evaluation

After considering the authors' response, the Editors may seek further assessment or advice from relevant experts, including statistical reviewers where appropriate. If misconduct appears unlikely, clarification, additional analysis, or a correction notice may be sufficient to address the concern.

4. Institutional Investigation

Where necessary, the journal may refer the matter to the relevant author's institution or request an institutional investigation. Institutions are expected to investigate allegations thoroughly and impartially. Authors, journals, and institutions share responsibility for maintaining the accuracy of the scholarly record.

5. Outcome

Depending on the findings, IJCLS may reject a manuscript, issue a correction, publish an expression of concern, issue a retraction with replacement, or retract a published article. The action taken will depend on the seriousness of the concern and the available evidence.

Retraction Policy

An article published in IJCLS may be retracted when there is clear evidence of circumstances that seriously undermine the reliability, originality, ethical compliance, or integrity of the publication. These circumstances may include:

  • Unreliable findings or data resulting from research misconduct, such as fabrication or falsification, or from serious errors.
  • Redundant publication of findings or substantial content without adequate cross-referencing, permission, or justification.
  • Plagiarism or substantial duplication of the work of others.
  • Serious violations of research ethics, including the absence of required ethical approval or informed consent where applicable.
  • Manipulation or compromise of the peer-review or editorial process.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect the integrity or interpretation of the research.
  • Serious breaches of copyright or other legal obligations related to publication.

Retraction decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board following a thorough, impartial, and documented assessment. Where appropriate, the authors are informed of the concerns and given an opportunity to respond before a decision is made.

When an article is retracted, IJCLS publishes a formal retraction notice and links it to the original publication. The original article remains available in the journal archive to preserve the scholarly record but is clearly labelled as retracted. The notice explains the reasons for the retraction in factual and objective terms and identifies the party responsible for the retraction, where applicable.

Corrections and Expressions of Concern

Where a concern does not warrant full retraction, IJCLS may publish a correction or an expression of concern. An expression of concern may be issued when an investigation remains inconclusive or is still underway. The notice may subsequently be replaced or followed by an appropriate resolution once the matter has been settled.

Commitment to Research Integrity

Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record and maintain confidence in published research, rather than to punish authors. IJCLS is committed to fairness, transparency, and due process when handling allegations and making decisions concerning corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions.

Further Guidance

For further information on publication ethics and the handling of research misconduct, please consult the guidelines issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Read COPE Core Practices →

Indonesian Journal of Criminal Law Studies (IJCLS) | Allegations of Research Misconduct