R-W-C Policy (Retraction, Withdrawal, and Correction)

1. Introduction

Journal of Lex et Justitia is committed to preserving the integrity, accuracy, and credibility of the scholarly record in the field of law and justice. This policy outlines the principles and procedures governing the withdrawal, retraction, and correction of manuscripts and published articles in order to uphold ethical standards, transparency, and academic responsibility.

2. Withdrawal Policy

2.1 Definition

Withdrawal refers to the removal of a manuscript prior to publication, including submissions under peer review or manuscripts that have been accepted but not yet published online.

2.2 Grounds for Withdrawal

A manuscript may be withdrawn for the following reasons:

  • Formal request by the author with valid justification

  • Duplicate or simultaneous submission detected before publication

  • Substantial errors identified prior to publication

  • Ethical concerns such as plagiarism or authorship disputes

2.3 Procedure

  • Authors must submit a written withdrawal request to the Editor-in-Chief.

  • The editorial board reviews the request and supporting reasons.

  • If approved, the manuscript is removed from the journal system.

  • Withdrawn manuscripts will not receive a DOI and will not be included in the journal archive.

3. Retraction Policy

3.1 Definition

Retraction applies to articles that have been formally published and are later found to contain serious errors or ethical violations that invalidate the work.

3.2 Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted due to:

  • Proven plagiarism or copyright infringement

  • Data fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of legal sources

  • Redundant or duplicate publication

  • Serious methodological or interpretative errors affecting legal conclusions

  • Ethical violations, including conflicts of interest not disclosed

3.3 Procedure

  • Retractions may be initiated by authors, editors, or third parties.

  • The editorial board conducts a thorough investigation.

  • Authors are notified and given an opportunity to respond.

  • If retraction is confirmed:

    • The original article remains accessible for the sake of transparency.

    • A Retraction Notice is published, clearly stating the reason for retraction.

    • The article is clearly marked as “Retracted” in all versions.

3.4 Retraction Notice

The Retraction Notice will:

  • Be permanently linked to the original article

  • Clearly explain the reasons for retraction

  • Distinguish between honest error and academic misconduct

4. Correction Policy

4.1 Definition

A correction is issued when a published article contains minor errors that do not undermine the validity or overall legal analysis of the work.

4.2 Types of Corrections

  • Typographical or formatting errors

  • Errors in author names, affiliations, or acknowledgments

  • Minor inaccuracies in citations, references, or legal terminology

4.3 Procedure

  • Corrections may be requested by authors or identified by editors.

  • The editorial board assesses the significance of the error.

  • A Correction Notice (Erratum or Corrigendum) is published.

  • The original article is updated with a clear link to the correction notice.

5. Editorial Responsibility

  • The Editor-in-Chief has final authority over all R-W-C decisions.

  • Decisions are made objectively, fairly, and in accordance with ethical guidelines.

  • All actions and decisions are properly documented.

6. Author Responsibility

Authors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring the originality, accuracy, and integrity of their manuscripts

  • Promptly informing the journal of any errors or ethical issues discovered

  • Cooperating fully during investigations or corrective actions

7. Ethical Standards

This policy adheres to:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Retraction Guidelines

  • International standards of academic and legal publishing ethics

8. Policy Review

Journal of Lex et Justitia reserves the right to revise this policy to reflect developments in publication ethics, legal scholarship, and best practices in academic publishing.