Policy Statement
The Jurnal Legalitas takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to addressing such matters fairly, confidentially, transparently, and promptly. This policy applies to allegations related to manuscripts under review as well as to articles that have already been published.
The journal’s procedures for managing allegations of research misconduct are guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and adhere to internationally recognized best practices in publication ethics.
Identification and Prevention
The journal implements reasonable and proactive measures to identify and prevent the submission or publication of manuscripts involving research misconduct. These measures include editorial screening, similarity checks, ethical evaluations during the peer-review process, and post-publication monitoring.
Under no circumstances shall the journal, its editors, reviewers, or publisher encourage, facilitate, or knowingly allow research misconduct to occur. Any concerns identified at any stage of the editorial or publication process will be addressed promptly and in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies.
Scope of Allegations
Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to, plagiarism, redundant or duplicate publication, citation manipulation, data fabrication or falsification, undisclosed conflicts of interest, unethical research practices, and serious breaches of authorship standards.
Allegations may be raised by readers, reviewers, editors, institutions, or other third parties and may relate to either a manuscript under editorial consideration or a published article.
Reporting and Assessment
Allegations of research misconduct should be submitted in writing to the editor-in-chief via the journal’s official contact email. Anonymous allegations may be considered at the editor’s discretion, provided they are supported by credible and verifiable evidence.
Upon receiving an allegation, the editor-in-chief will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the complaint falls within the scope of research misconduct and whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a further investigation. All parties involved will be treated with discretion, and confidentiality will be maintained to the greatest extent possible.
Investigation and Outcomes
When an allegation is deemed credible, the editor-in-chief will initiate an investigation, which may involve consultation with relevant editors or members of the editorial team. The corresponding author(s) will be notified of the allegation and given an opportunity to respond within a reasonable time frame.
Based on the outcome of the investigation, the journal may take appropriate editorial action, including but not limited to: taking no action where allegations are unsubstantiated; requesting clarification or correction; rejecting a manuscript; or publishing a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction. Where appropriate, the journal may also notify the author(s)’ affiliated institutions.
If an author fails to respond or provides an unsatisfactory explanation within the stipulated timeframe, the journal reserves the right to proceed with editorial action based on the available evidence.
Communication and Closure
Authors will be formally notified of the final decision and any actions taken. Complainants will be informed of the case resolution in accordance with confidentiality requirements.
A case is considered closed once all necessary editorial actions have been completed. Records of the case will be securely maintained by the Editorial Office for internal reference and accountability purposes.
Relationship to Other Policies
This policy should be read in conjunction with the journal’s publication ethics and malpractice statement, retraction and correction policy, and withdrawal of manuscript policy. Together, these documents establish a coherent framework for upholding ethical standards and preserving the integrity of the scholarly record.