Jurnal Esensi Hukum upholds the integrity of the scholarly record and follows the retraction guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Retraction alerts readers to publications that contain serious flaws or errors, so that their results and conclusions are no longer valid, or that involve misconduct in research or publication. This policy applies to all articles published in Jurnal Esensi Hukum, regardless of how long ago they were published. The journal also welcomes scholarly discussion of published articles and handles it under this policy (see Post-Publication Discussion).

Grounds for Retraction

The editorial board may retract a published article if one or more of the following conditions apply:

• The findings were previously published elsewhere without proper cross-referencing, permission, or justification (redundant publication).
• The article is shown to contain plagiarism or to report unethical research.
• The article contains data, results, or interpretations shown to be fabricated, falsified, or manipulated.
• Authorship is disputed, or authorship was granted without the knowledge and consent of all contributors.
• There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, whether through misconduct or honest error.
• The peer review process is shown to have been compromised or manipulated.

Retraction Process

1. Readers, authors, reviewers, editors, or the authors' institution may raise a concern about an article, including through post-publication discussion. The editorial board makes an initial assessment of the concern.
2. If the concern is credible, the editorial board contacts the corresponding author to ask for an explanation and supporting evidence.
3. The editorial board may consult members of the editorial team, external experts, or the authors' institution before making a final decision.
4. If the investigation confirms grounds for retraction, the editorial board publishes a retraction notice and links it to the original article.
5. The decision to retract an article rests with the editorial board. It is made after the authors have had an opportunity to respond, and it does not depend on the authors' agreement.

Retraction Notice

Retracted articles are not removed from the journal website or databases. The original article remains accessible, is clearly marked as retracted, and is linked to a retraction notice that explains the reason. The retraction notice is published as a separate entry in the journal, is freely accessible, and states who is retracting the article and the specific grounds for retraction. The PDF of a retracted article is watermarked on every page to show its retracted status.

Corrections

Minor errors that do not affect the overall validity of the findings, conclusions, or interpretation of an article may be handled by a correction notice instead of retraction. The editorial board decides whether an error calls for a correction or a retraction, based on how severely it affects the published work. The journal distinguishes two forms of correction:

• Erratum: a correction issued by the editorial board for minor errors introduced during the editorial or production process.
• Corrigendum: a correction issued by the authors for errors made during the research or writing process that do not invalidate the overall findings.

Expression of Concern

If the evidence is not conclusive but readers should be warned of a possible serious problem, or if an investigation will take considerable time, the editorial board may publish an Expression of Concern on the article. The editorial board updates or replaces this notice once a final decision is reached.

Post-Publication Discussion

Scholarly debate after publication helps keep the scholarly record accurate. In line with the COPE guidance on post-publication discussions and corrections, Jurnal Esensi Hukum accepts comments, questions, criticism, and alternative interpretations of the data, methods, legal arguments, and conclusions of articles it has published. The purpose of this process is to protect the integrity of the literature, not to punish authors.

How to submit. Send an email to esensihukum@upnvj.ac.id with the subject line "Post-Publication Discussion: [article title]". Please include:

• your full name, affiliation, and email address;
• the article details: title, author names, volume and issue, and DOI;
• a clear comment with its basis or evidence, such as data, court decisions, legislation, or literature;
• a statement of any competing interests.

How we handle it.

1. The editorial office acknowledges receipt within 7 working days.
2. The Editor-in-Chief assesses the comment against the article and its scholarly basis.
3. The authors of the article are invited to respond within 30 days.
4. The editorial board may consult independent reviewers or other experts.
5. The Editor-in-Chief decides on follow-up and informs the sender and the authors.

Possible outcomes.

• No action: the comment does not show a problem with the article. The editorial office explains its reasons to the sender.
• Published discussion: a comment of scholarly value and the authors' reply may be published as a letter to the editor, or as a comment and reply in a later issue.
• Correction or Expression of Concern: handled under the Corrections and Expression of Concern sections.
• Retraction: handled under the Grounds for Retraction, Retraction Process, and Retraction Notice sections. Allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or other research misconduct follow the retraction process above.

Rules for comments. Comments must be scholarly, courteous, and cite verifiable grounds. The editorial office does not process personal attacks, unsupported comments, or comments without a verifiable sender identity. It keeps the sender's identity and the content of the comment confidential until a decision is made, except where disclosure is needed to respond to an allegation. The authors of the article may respond to every comment before the editorial board decides.

Conflicts of Interest in Case Handling

Any editor, reviewer, or expert involved in a post-publication discussion, correction, or retraction case must disclose a conflict of interest with the article, its authors, or the sender of the concern. This includes a personal, financial, institutional, or collaborative relationship, and a supervisory or student relationship. A person with such a conflict does not take part in the assessment or the decision, and the Editor-in-Chief assigns the case to another editor or expert. If the Editor-in-Chief has the conflict, another member of the editorial board takes the decision. Conflicts of interest in authorship, submission, and peer review are covered in the Publication Ethics policy.

Appeals

Authors who disagree with a retraction decision may submit a formal written appeal to the editorial board within 30 days of receiving the notice. The appeal must include new evidence or a substantive rebuttal of the findings. The editorial board's decision on the appeal is final.

This policy is consistent with the COPE retraction guidelines and the guidance on post-publication discussions and corrections.