Withdrawal Policy | Journal of Forensic Science and Research

The Journal of Forensic Science and Research (JFSR) maintains a clear Withdrawal Policy to ensure that the integrity of the scholarly record is preserved. Manuscript withdrawal is discouraged once submission and peer review processes are initiated; however, we recognize that exceptional circumstances may require authors or editors to withdraw or retract a manuscript.

Withdrawal Before Publication

Authors may request withdrawal before acceptance under the following conditions:

Early Withdrawal: Authors may request withdrawal within the initial editorial screening stage without penalty.
During Peer Review: Withdrawal requests must provide clear justification, such as ethical concerns or duplicate submission. Approval is at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

Withdrawal After Acceptance

Withdrawal requests made after acceptance and production disrupt publication processes and are considered serious. Such requests are granted only under exceptional circumstances and may be subject to withdrawal fees to cover editorial and processing costs.

Grounds for Withdrawal by Journal

The editorial board may withdraw manuscripts at any stage if:

Plagiarism or duplicate publication is detected.
Unethical research practices are identified.
Authorship disputes cannot be resolved.
Legal issues (e.g., copyright violations) arise.

Withdrawal of Published Articles

Published articles are withdrawn or retracted only in cases of confirmed ethical breaches, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or legal violations. Retractions are issued following COPE Retraction Guidelines and are clearly labeled to maintain transparency.

Withdrawal Charges

To discourage unethical withdrawal practices and compensate for resources spent, withdrawal charges may apply in the following scenarios:

Manuscripts withdrawn after peer review initiation.
Accepted manuscripts withdrawn before publication.
Articles withdrawn for author-related misconduct.

Withdrawal fees are detailed in the Charges Policy section of the journal.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

JFSR follows COPE flowcharts for handling withdrawal and retraction cases. In cases of legal obligations (e.g., defamation, copyright infringement, or court orders), articles may be removed entirely, with a statement issued in their place.

Corrections and Replacements

In some cases, rather than withdrawal, articles may be corrected or replaced. Replacement occurs when a corrected version of the article is provided by the authors and accepted by the editorial board, ensuring the scholarly record remains accurate.

FAQs

Can authors withdraw a manuscript to submit elsewhere?

Yes, but only before peer review begins. Authors must formally notify the editorial office with justification.

What happens if plagiarism is detected post-publication?

The article will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be published.

Are withdrawal charges refundable?

No. Withdrawal charges, once applicable, are non-refundable as they cover administrative costs.

Commitment to Integrity

JFSR enforces this Withdrawal Policy to protect the scholarly record, uphold ethical standards, and ensure responsible publishing practices. Authors, reviewers, and editors are encouraged to communicate transparently to prevent unnecessary withdrawals.