As part of its editorial policy, the scientific journal Archive of Criminology and Forensic Sciences consistently adheres to the publishing standards set out in the COPE Code of Conduct and endorsed by the Committee on Publication Ethics.
Members of the journal's editorial board and/or reviewers assess scholarly articles in accordance with the principles of objectivity, academic integrity, and internationally recognized academic standards.
The main factors influencing the editorial board's decision to publish an article are the originality of the material, the relevance of the topic, and its significance for researchers and readers. The intellectual content of manuscripts is assessed irrespective of the authors' race, sex, religious beliefs, origin, citizenship, social status, or any comparable characteristic.
In accordance with the principles of COPE, WAME, DORA, and ICMJE, the editorial board engages in a scholarly and evidence-based dialogue with authors whenever a manuscript is rejected or reviewers raise substantive comments. That dialogue is conducted through the journal's editorial board.
The editorial board reserves the right to make minor literary and stylistic edits and reductions while preserving the author's voice. Any edits that, in the board's judgment, may alter the substance of the text are coordinated with the author. At the same time, the editorial board reserves the right to reject articles that do not meet the journal's requirements or thematic scope. The editorial board does not revise decisions on accepted materials unless there is clear and sufficient justification for doing so.
The editorial board does not leave unanswered any claims relating to reviewed manuscripts or published materials and, where a dispute arises, takes all necessary steps to restore violated rights. Opinions and proposals expressed in scholarly articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Responsibility for the reliability and accuracy of the information contained in scholarly articles, including titles, statistical data, surnames, and quotations, rests with the authors and co-authors. Materials submitted for publication are not returned, and published scholarly articles may not be republished in other scientific outlets.
Adherence to the principles and recommendations of COPE, WAME, DORA, and ICMJE
The editorial board of the scientific journal Archive of Criminology and Forensic Sciences follows a number of principles and recommendations developed by international organizations, including the following:
1. COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)
The journal adheres to the ethical standards defined by COPE:
- transparency in the submission, review, and publication of scholarly articles;
- impartiality and independence of editors and reviewers;
- academic integrity, including the avoidance of plagiarism, falsification, fabrication, duplicate publication, and related misconduct;
- proper authorship, with a clear definition of each author's and co-author's contribution to the article;
- clear and open procedures for handling appeals and complaints concerning publication ethics;
- clear procedures for retractions, corrections, and notices of error.
2. WAME (World Association of Medical Editors)
The editorial board applies WAME recommendations in a broader scholarly context:
- editorial independence, meaning that editorial decisions are taken without pressure from sponsors, institutions, commercial interests, or comparable outside influence;
- disclosure of conflicts of interest by authors, reviewers, and editors wherever such conflicts exist;
- objective, fair, and timely expert review of every scholarly article;
- transparency regarding funding, including disclosure of grants, sponsors, and sources of funding for journal issues;
- support for early-career researchers by facilitating publication opportunities at the beginning of a scholarly career.
3. DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment)
The journal supports the principles of fair research assessment:
- research should not be evaluated solely on bibliometric indicators such as impact factor or h-index, but on quality, originality, and contribution to scholarship;
- different forms of research output, including software, datasets, algorithms, technical solutions, and technologies, should be valued alongside published articles;
- interdisciplinary research should be recognized as equal in value to more traditional publications;
- open science should be encouraged through preprints, open access to data, code, and similar practices.
4. ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors)
- authorship criteria, under which only those who have made a substantial contribution to the research qualify as authors;
- research ethics, including compliance with ethical standards in work involving data, authors, editorial board members, and reviewers;
- data openness, including encouraging authors to preserve and provide access to data generated in the course of their research.
5. Other contemporary principles (Open Science, Plan S, FAIR Data)
- Open Access and Open Science, supporting free access to research findings;
- FAIR Data principles, ensuring that data are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable;
- Plan S, supporting publication policies centered on open journals and open repositories;
- ethical use of artificial intelligence, requiring transparency and accountability where AI is used in research and in presenting research results.
Conflict of Interest Policy
Conflict of interest means the existence of a private interest in the sphere in which a person performs official or representative functions, where that interest may affect the objectivity or impartiality of decision-making or of actions or omissions taken in the course of those functions, including the proper, complete, and objective review and decision-making process concerning the publication of scholarly articles or other materials.
A conflict of interest is deemed to exist where persons involved in the editorial process are in personal or other relationships that could potentially compromise them, hinder objectivity, or influence decisions relating to publication.
All authors must disclose in their scholarly work any financial or other substantial conflicts of interest that could affect the research results or their interpretation. All sources of financial support for the project must be disclosed. Examples of possible conflicts of interest include information about the employer, consulting arrangements, stock ownership, honoraria, patent applications or registrations, as well as grants and other forms of funding. All potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed as early as possible.
When submitting a scholarly article, the author must report all possible conflicts of interest involving members of the editorial board of the scientific journal Archive of Criminology and Forensic Sciences.
A conflict of interest may also arise from employment, funding sources, personal financial interests, membership in relevant organizations, or other circumstances capable of creating bias and influencing decisions by responsible persons.
Members of the editorial board must not review manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or ties with any of the authors or with companies or institutions connected with the research.
Any statements of conflict of interest made by authors, reviewers, or editors are considered by the Chair of the editorial board and/or the Deputy Chair. Where well-founded statements concern a conflict of interest involving the Chair, they are considered with the participation of two members of the editorial board.
The journal's editorial board follows the requirements and position set out in COPE's Submissions by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members of a Journal and the COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, while also taking into account the ICMJE approach to disclosing financial and non-financial relationships and activities and conflicts of interest.
We also emphasize: the approved policies and procedures are not merely published, but are applied consistently and in practice by editorial board members and reviewers.