The Andalas Law Journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in academic publishing. We take allegations of research misconduct, including falsification, fabrication, and plagiarism, very seriously. The journal adheres to the guidelines and recommendations provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). For more information on COPE’s core practices, please visit COPE's Core Practices.

Definition of Misconduct

Research misconduct is defined as any action that involves the fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism of research data, findings, or sources, and any other unethical behavior that violates the norms of academic research and publication.

Reporting Allegations

If any party, including authors, reviewers, or readers, suspects that research misconduct has occurred, they are encouraged to report their concerns to the journal’s editorial office. Allegations of misconduct should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief via email at alj@law.unand.ac.id. All allegations will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Initial Assessment

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial board, will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the claim has merit. This process will involve:

1. Reviewing the allegation to ensure it pertains to research misconduct as defined above.
2. Conducting a preliminary investigation by gathering and examining relevant documentation and evidence.
3. If the allegation is deemed to have merit, notifying the corresponding author(s) of the manuscript in question and providing them with the opportunity to respond to the allegation.

Full Investigation

If the initial assessment suggests that there is sufficient evidence to support the allegation, a full investigation will be initiated. This will involve:

1. Forming an investigative committee consisting of members of the editorial board and independent experts in the relevant field.
2. The committee will review all the evidence, including any responses from the accused parties.
3. The investigation may involve consultation with the institutions of the authors, particularly where the research was conducted, to gather additional information and context.

Outcomes and Actions

Based on the findings of the investigation, the following actions may be taken:

• If Misconduct is Confirmed:
  • The article in question may be retracted from the journal.
  • A retraction notice will be published, explaining the reasons for the retraction.
  • The authors’ institutions may be notified of the findings.
  • The authors may be prohibited from submitting future manuscripts to the Andalas Law Journal for a specified period.
• If Misconduct is Not Confirmed:
  • If the investigation concludes that no misconduct occurred, the article will be published (or remain published) as originally accepted.
  • A notice may be issued clarifying the outcome of the investigation, if deemed necessary.

Appeals

Authors have the right to appeal decisions related to allegations of misconduct. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief at alj@law.unand.ac.id within 30 days of the decision. The appeal will be reviewed by an independent panel not involved in the original investigation.

Documentation and Transparency

All steps of the investigation process will be documented, and records will be maintained for future reference. The Andalas Law Journal is committed to transparency and will communicate the outcomes of investigations to all relevant parties while protecting the confidentiality of those involved.

For more information on handling research misconduct, please refer to the COPE website.