Publication Ethics Policy

The Journal of Forensic Science and Research (JFSR) has established a comprehensive Publication Ethics Policy to ensure that all research published in the journal adheres to the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and accountability. This policy is informed by the COPE Core Practices, the ICMJE Recommendations, and WAME guidelines, ensuring compliance with international publishing norms.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made solely on scholarly merit and relevance to forensic science, independent of institutional, financial, or political influence. Editors maintain impartiality and recuse themselves in cases of conflict of interest.

Responsibilities of Authors

• Submit original, unpublished work that has not been considered elsewhere.
• Ensure all listed authors meet authorship criteria and consent to publication.
• Disclose all conflicts of interest, funding sources, and ethical approvals.
• Provide accurate data and, where appropriate, deposit datasets in repositories for transparency.
• Correct errors promptly when identified, through corrigenda or retractions.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors must:

• Ensure fair and timely peer review of all submissions.
• Uphold confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.
• Disclose conflicts of interest and avoid handling manuscripts where bias may occur.
• Follow COPE flowcharts for suspected ethical misconduct.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers contribute to maintaining quality and integrity by:

• Providing objective, constructive, and confidential feedback.
• Declining review requests outside their expertise or where conflicts exist.
• Reporting suspected plagiarism, duplication, or ethical issues.
• Completing reviews within agreed timelines.

Publisher Responsibilities

Misconduct Handling

Allegations of misconduct such as plagiarism, falsification, image manipulation, duplicate submission, or authorship disputes are investigated thoroughly. Actions may include manuscript rejection, retraction, publication of notices, or institutional notification.

Corrections and Retractions

Errors are corrected transparently with corrigenda or errata. Retractions are issued when findings are unreliable due to misconduct or honest errors. Retraction notices are clearly labeled, linked to the article, and remain permanently accessible.

Data Sharing and Transparency

Authors are encouraged to deposit data in open repositories and provide access to materials, methods, and datasets to promote reproducibility and accountability in forensic science research.

Ethical Oversight

Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive material must follow recognized ethical standards, with institutional approval documented. Ethical safeguards (e.g., anonymization, informed consent) must be explicitly stated in manuscripts.

Conflict of Interest

All parties—authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers—must disclose potential conflicts of interest. Such disclosures are published alongside articles where relevant.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting reasoned justifications. Complaints about ethical misconduct, editorial practices, or peer review are investigated under COPE-aligned procedures to ensure fairness.

FAQs

What if misconduct is suspected?

Editors investigate in line with COPE guidelines. Authors may be contacted for explanations before further action.

Can an article be withdrawn post-publication?

Yes. In cases of proven misconduct or legal issues, articles may be withdrawn, with notices issued for transparency.

How does JFSR prevent duplicate submissions?

Manuscripts are cross-checked against major databases and plagiarism tools before acceptance.

Commitment to Integrity

Through this Publication Ethics Policy, JFSR reaffirms its commitment to publishing original, high-quality, and ethically sound forensic science research. Upholding these principles safeguards the trust of the academic community and the public.