Open Access Statement

The Journal of Forensic Science and Research (JFSR) is a fully open access journal. All articles are freely available to readers worldwide immediately upon publication, without subscription barriers or registration requirements. Our open access commitment ensures that knowledge in forensic science can be accessed, shared, and applied universally, supporting innovation, education, and justice.

Licensing and Copyright

Articles in JFSR are published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. This license allows users to copy, distribute, adapt, and build upon published works—even commercially—provided the original author and source are properly credited.

Benefits of Open Access

  • Global Accessibility: Readers across the world can freely access content, including those in resource-limited settings.
  • Increased Visibility: Articles are indexed in major databases and accessible via scholarly search engines.
  • Enhanced Citations: Open access publications tend to attract more citations due to greater reach.
  • Public Engagement: Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and the public can engage with forensic science knowledge without barriers.

Author Rights

Authors retain copyright over their work. They grant JFSR a license to publish and distribute the content under the CC BY license, ensuring maximum dissemination while preserving author ownership. Authors are encouraged to deposit their accepted manuscripts in institutional repositories and personal websites.

Repository and Self-Archiving Policy

JFSR permits authors to self-archive both preprints and postprints. Deposits may be made in:

  • Institutional repositories
  • Disciplinary repositories (e.g., arXiv, bioRxiv, OSF)
  • Author’s personal websites
  • Funding agency repositories

There is no embargo period. Metadata and final published versions must include the DOI link for citation accuracy.

Compliance with Funder Mandates

Our open access policy aligns with funder requirements, including Plan S, the NIH Public Access Policy, the Wellcome Trust, and the European Research Council (ERC). Authors supported by such funders can be assured that publication in JFSR meets compliance standards.

Article Processing Charges (APC)

To sustain open access publishing, JFSR applies a transparent APC policy. Waivers and discounts are available for authors from low- and middle-income countries, as detailed in our Waiver Policy.

Ethical and Legal Framework

JFSR follows guidelines set by COPE, ICMJE, and WAME to ensure that open access publishing maintains ethical, transparent, and professional standards. Our policies align with GDPR and international data protection laws, ensuring privacy and integrity in publishing.

FAQs on Open Access

Can I reuse figures from JFSR articles?

Yes, figures may be reused under the CC BY 4.0 license, provided proper attribution is given to the original source and authors.

Does open access affect article quality?

No. All manuscripts undergo rigorous peer review. Open access affects only accessibility, not editorial standards.

Is there a cost for readers?

No. JFSR is entirely free for readers, ensuring equitable knowledge sharing.

Commitment to the Future

JFSR aims to strengthen open access publishing by adopting emerging practices such as machine-readable metadata, ORCID integration, and enhanced repository compatibility. We are committed to ensuring that forensic science research remains widely accessible and sustainable for the long term.