Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

LEMKAPI: Journal of Law & Policy Studies is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in academic publishing. This Publication Ethics statement outlines the responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board, Peer Reviewers, and Authors. This statement is guided by principles of neutrality, justice, and honesty, and is aligned with industry best practices, including those recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

 

Ethical Principles

Our publication ethics are founded on the following core principles:

  • Neutrality: All editorial decisions will be made free from bias and conflicts of interest, ensuring impartial evaluation based solely on the academic merit and relevance of submissions to the journal's scope.
  • Justice: Authorship will be accurately attributed to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the work.
  • Honesty: We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, and any other forms of research misconduct.

 

Responsibilities of Authors

  1. Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their submitted work is entirely original. Any use of others' work, ideas, or words must be appropriately cited or quoted. Plagiarism in all forms, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.
  2. Data Accuracy and Integrity: Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the data presented in their manuscripts. Data fabrication and falsification are unacceptable.
  3. Authorship and Contribution: Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All individuals who meet the criteria for authorship should be listed, and their specific contributions should be acknowledged
  4. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation. This includes financial, personal, or professional relationships that might be perceived as biasing the work.
  5. Acknowledgement of Sources: Authors must properly acknowledge all sources of funding and any other support received for the research.
  6. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication: Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable. Authors should not submit manuscripts describing essentially the same research to multiple journals.
  7. Errors in Published Works: If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must promptly notify the journal Editor-in-Chief and cooperate in retracting or correcting the paper.
  8. Compliance with Journal Policies: Authors are expected to familiarize themselves with and adhere to all journal policies, including those related to data sharing, ethics approval (if applicable), and copyright.

 

Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief

  1. Fair Play and Editorial Independence: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for evaluating manuscripts solely on their academic merit and relevance to the journal's scope, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.
  2. Confidentiality: The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related correspondence.
  3. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: The Editor-in-Chief must not use unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their own research without the express written consent of the author. They must also recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest.
  4. Decision on Publication: The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Editorial Board and based on the peer-review reports, makes the final decision on whether to accept, reject, or request revisions for a manuscript.
  5. Ensuring Ethical Conduct: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for ensuring that all published work adheres to the highest ethical standards. They will investigate any allegations of misconduct and take appropriate action, including issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern, as necessary.

 

Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

  1. Supporting the Editor-in-Chief: The Editorial Board assists the Editor-in-Chief in making editorial decisions and may also communicate with authors as needed.
  2. Manuscript Evaluation: Editorial Board members may be asked to provide input on the suitability of manuscripts for publication.
  3. Confidentiality: Editorial Board members must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related correspondence.
  4. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editorial Board members must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist.
  5. Promoting Ethical Practices: Editorial Board members should actively promote ethical publishing practices and contribute to the development and refinement of journal policies.

 

Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

  1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer reviewers provide expert assessments of manuscripts to assist the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board in making publication decisions.
  2. Promptness: Reviewers should only agree to review manuscripts if they can do so within the specified timeframe.
  3. Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and not disclose their contents to others.
  4. Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively and based on the academic merit of the work. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.
  5. Acknowledgement of Sources: Reviewers should identify any relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. 
  6. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and decline to review manuscripts where such conflicts exist.
  7. Expertise: Reviewers must have enough expertise in the area of manuscript to review the manuscript.

 

Specific Considerations for LEMKAPI: Journal of Law & Policy Studies

Given the journal's focus on Police Law Enforcement, Economics/Sharia Economics (Management, Accounting) and Business Law, Criminal Justice System, Natural Resources Law, Comparative Constitutional and Administrative Law, Political Science and Sociology, Medical/Health Law, and Government Policy, the following ethical considerations are particularly relevant:

  • Sensitive Data: Research involving law enforcement, criminal justice, or government policy may involve sensitive data. Authors must ensure they have obtained necessary permissions and have adequately anonymized data to protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals and institutions.
  • Policy Implications: Given the journal's focus on policy studies, authors should carefully consider the potential policy implications of their research and present their findings responsibly.
  • Objectivity in Legal and Policy Analysis: Authors analyzing legal frameworks, policies, or government actions should strive for objectivity and avoid biased interpretations.
  • Respect for Diverse Perspectives: LEMKAPI encourages submissions that explore diverse perspectives on law and policy issues, and authors should be respectful of differing viewpoints.

 

Enforcement

LEMKAPI: Journal of Law & Policy Studies takes all allegations of publication misconduct seriously. Suspected breaches of these ethical guidelines will be investigated thoroughly, and appropriate action will be taken in accordance with COPE guidelines. This may include issuing corrections, retractions, or, in severe cases, contacting the authors' institutions.

By adhering to these ethical principles, LEMKAPI: Journal of Law & Policy Studies aims to foster a culture of integrity and trust in academic publishing, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of law and policy studies.