The Indonesian Journal of Criminal Law Studies (IJCLS) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that errors may occasionally be identified after publication and that serious concerns may arise regarding the validity, originality, or ethical compliance of a published article.

IJCLS therefore applies this Correction and Retraction Policy to ensure that any necessary post-publication action is handled fairly, transparently, and proportionately. Editorial decisions are made with reference to the principles of publication ethics and the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Grounds for Correction

A correction may be issued when an error in a published article affects the accuracy, clarity, attribution, or interpretation of the work but does not invalidate its principal findings or conclusions.

Examples may include:

• Errors in author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, or other publication metadata.
• Minor factual, typographical, citation, or reference errors that require formal correction.
• Errors in tables, figures, terminology, or explanatory passages that could cause misunderstanding but do not undermine the article's principal conclusions.
• Omissions or inaccuracies in disclosures, funding statements, or declarations that can be corrected without invalidating the research.

The editorial team will assess the nature and significance of the error before deciding whether a formal correction notice is necessary. Minor typographical errors that do not affect the meaning of the article may not require a separate notice.

2. Grounds for Retraction

Retraction may be considered when substantial concerns arise that undermine the reliability, originality, or ethical legitimacy of a published article. Depending on the circumstances and available evidence, grounds for retraction may include:

• Clear evidence that the findings or conclusions are unreliable because of major error, fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of research data or evidence.
• Plagiarism, substantial unattributed reuse, or other serious breaches of originality and attribution requirements.
• Redundant publication or substantial overlap with previously published work without appropriate disclosure or justification.
• Serious research or publication misconduct, including manipulation of the peer-review process.
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect the interpretation, assessment, or reliability of the work.
• Serious ethical violations or substantial breaches of legal requirements relevant to the research or publication.
• Other circumstances in which the published article can no longer be regarded as a reliable contribution to the scholarly record.

Retraction will not be based solely on disagreement with an author's legal interpretation, theoretical position, or scholarly conclusion. Such disagreement should ordinarily be addressed through academic discussion, commentary, or post-publication review unless credible evidence establishes a substantive error or integrity concern.

3. Reporting Errors and Concerns

Authors, readers, reviewers, researchers, and other interested parties may notify IJCLS of a suspected error or concern relating to a published article through the journal's official editorial contact channels.

A report should, where possible, include:

• The title and authors of the article concerned, together with its DOI or publication URL, if available.
• A clear description of the suspected error, concern, or alleged misconduct.
• Relevant evidence, sources, documents, or references that support the concern.
• The reporter's contact details, where they are willing to provide them.

IJCLS will assess reports on their merits and will not treat an allegation as established merely because it has been made. Reports should be sufficiently specific to permit a fair and meaningful assessment.

4. Editorial Assessment and Investigation

The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Editorial Board where appropriate, will conduct an initial assessment of the reported concern. The journal may seek advice from independent experts or reviewers when specialized knowledge is necessary.

Where a concern is credible and requires further examination, IJCLS may contact the corresponding author and other relevant parties to request an explanation, clarification, or supporting documentation. Authors will ordinarily be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before a final editorial decision is made, subject to circumstances requiring urgent action to protect the scholarly record.

If the concern involves potential research misconduct that cannot be adequately resolved through editorial assessment, IJCLS may refer the matter to the relevant author's institution or other competent body, where appropriate. The journal may proceed with an editorial decision based on the evidence available to it and is not required to await an institutional investigation where action is necessary to protect the scholarly record.

All assessments will be conducted fairly and impartially, with due consideration for confidentiality, the rights of the parties involved, and the need to preserve the integrity of the published record.

5. Editorial Decisions and Corrective Actions

Following its assessment, IJCLS may take one or more of the following actions, depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern:

• No further action: where the concern is unsupported or does not warrant a formal post-publication correction.
• Correction notice: where an identified error can be corrected without invalidating the article's principal findings or conclusions.
• Expression of concern: where there are credible unresolved concerns about an article and further investigation or evidence is needed before a final decision can be reached.
• Retraction notice: where the evidence establishes that retraction is necessary to protect the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.
• Referral or further investigation: where the matter may require assessment by an institution or another competent body.

The action taken will be proportionate to the evidence and the potential impact of the issue on the reliability of the published article. Where appropriate, IJCLS may also take other editorial or publication-ethics measures in accordance with its relevant policies.

6. Publication of Correction Notices

A formal correction notice will identify the affected article and explain the nature of the error and the correction made. The notice will be linked to the original article, and the original article will be updated or annotated where technically and editorially appropriate.

Corrections will be published in a manner that allows readers to identify the change and understand its significance. The journal will avoid making silent changes to substantive content where a formal notice is necessary to maintain transparency.

7. Publication of Retraction Notices

When an article is retracted, IJCLS will publish a clear retraction notice that identifies the article and explains the reason for retraction to the extent permitted by the available evidence and applicable confidentiality or legal obligations.

The retraction notice will be linked to the original article, and the article will remain accessible in the journal's archive where feasible, clearly marked as retracted. The journal will not remove the original article from the scholarly record except where removal is required by applicable law or other exceptional circumstances.

A retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record, not to determine legal liability or serve as a substitute for institutional or legal proceedings. The wording of the notice will distinguish established findings from allegations or matters that remain unresolved.

8. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to notify IJCLS promptly if they discover a material error or inaccuracy in their published work. They should cooperate reasonably with editorial inquiries, provide relevant information, and assist the journal in determining whether a correction, expression of concern, or retraction is appropriate.

Where authors disagree with a proposed editorial action, they may submit a reasoned response and supporting evidence. The final decision concerning publication of a correction, expression of concern, or retraction rests with the journal's editorial leadership, based on the available evidence and applicable publication-ethics principles.

9. Transparency and Ethical Standards

IJCLS is committed to handling post-publication concerns consistently, independently, and transparently. The journal will take reasonable steps to protect confidential information, manage conflicts of interest, and ensure that decisions are based on relevant evidence rather than personal, institutional, or other improper considerations.

This policy should be read together with the journal's policies on Allegations of Research Misconduct, Post-Publication Discussion, Publication Ethics, and Conflict of Interest. Where relevant, IJCLS follows the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).