Jurnal Esensi Hukum follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when it receives an allegation of research or publication misconduct. This policy applies to every published article, regardless of how long ago it appeared.

What the journal treats as an allegation

• The article contains plagiarism or reports unethical research.
• The article contains data, results, or interpretations that are fabricated, falsified, or manipulated.
• The findings were published elsewhere without proper cross-referencing, permission, or justification (redundant publication).
• Authorship is disputed, or authorship was granted without the knowledge and consent of all contributors.
• The peer review process was compromised or manipulated.

Who can raise a concern

Readers, authors, reviewers, editors, and the authors' institution can raise a concern about an article. They can use the procedure on the Post-Publication Discussion page.

How the editorial board handles an allegation

1. The editorial board makes an initial assessment of the concern.
2. If the concern is credible, the board contacts the corresponding author to ask for an explanation and supporting evidence.
3. The board may consult members of the editorial team, external experts, or the authors' institution.
4. If the investigation confirms grounds for retraction, the board publishes a retraction notice and links it to the original article.
5. The board decides after the authors have had an opportunity to respond. The decision does not depend on the authors' agreement.

Editors, reviewers, and experts who handle a case must disclose any conflict of interest. See the Conflict of Interest page. Authors may appeal a retraction decision in writing within 30 days of the notice.

Full procedure: Retraction, Correction, and Post-Publication Discussion Policy.