Errata, Corrections, and Retractions

Editorial Policies

Errata, Corrections, and Retractions

The Review of Studies on Criminology, Sociology, and Law (RSCSL) is committed to preserving the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. Despite rigorous editorial assessment and double-blind peer review, errors or ethical concerns may occasionally be identified after publication. When such situations arise, RSCSL follows clear and transparent procedures for issuing errata, corrections, expressions of concern, retractions, or article removals, ensuring that the published literature remains accurate and trustworthy.

All post-publication actions are undertaken fairly, consistently, and in accordance with internationally recognized best practices for publication ethics. The journal seeks to correct the scholarly record while maintaining transparency regarding the reasons for any editorial action.

 

Guiding Principles

RSCSL adheres to the following principles when addressing post-publication issues:

  • Transparency in all editorial actions;
  • Fair and impartial investigation of concerns;
  • Preservation of the scholarly record whenever possible;
  • Proportional editorial responses based on the seriousness of the issue;
  • Protection of research participants, readers, and the academic community;
  • Respect for due process and confidentiality during investigations.

Editorial decisions are made independently and based on available evidence.

 

Errata

An Erratum is issued when an error introduced during the editorial, production, or publishing process affects the accuracy or presentation of a published article but does not compromise the validity of the research findings.

Examples include:

  • Typographical errors introduced during production;
  • Formatting or layout errors;
  • Incorrect author affiliations;
  • Publisher-introduced citation errors;
  • Incorrect figure or table placement;
  • Production-related metadata errors.

When an erratum is issued:

  • The published article will be corrected where appropriate;
  • A separate Erratum Notice will be published;
  • The notice will clearly describe the correction;
  • The notice will be permanently linked to the original article;
  • The original article will indicate that an erratum has been issued.
Where applicable, the Erratum Notice may receive its own Digital Object Identifier (DOI).
 

Author Corrections

A Correction (sometimes referred to as a Corrigendum) is published when an error originating from the author(s) requires amendment but does not invalidate the overall findings, legal analysis, interpretations, or conclusions of the study.

Examples include:

  • Minor errors in reported data;
  • Incorrect author information;
  • Citation or reference inaccuracies;
  • Clarification of methodology;
  • Minor inaccuracies in figures or tables;
  • Errors in legal citations or statutory references that do not materially affect the conclusions.

When a correction is issued:

  • The article will be updated where appropriate;
  • A Correction Notice will describe the changes;
  • The notice will remain permanently linked to the published article;
  • Readers will be informed that the article has been corrected.
Corrections are intended to improve the accuracy of the scholarly record while preserving the integrity of the published work.
 

Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when substantial questions arise regarding the integrity, reliability, legality, or ethical conduct of a published article, but the available evidence is insufficient to determine whether correction or retraction is warranted.

Situations that may justify an Expression of Concern include:

  • Ongoing institutional investigations;
  • Allegations of research misconduct under review;
  • Questions regarding data integrity;
  • Concerns about ethical approval or participant protection;
  • Potential authorship disputes;
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest;
  • Possible legal or regulatory concerns requiring investigation.

An Expression of Concern will remain associated with the article until the investigation has concluded. Following completion of the investigation, the notice may be replaced by:

  • A Correction;
  • A Retraction;
  • Removal of the Expression of Concern if concerns are not substantiated.
 

Article Removal

Article removal is reserved for exceptional circumstances in which correction or retraction cannot adequately address serious legal or ethical concerns.

Removal may be considered when:

  • Publication violates applicable laws or court orders;
  • The article contains defamatory or unlawful content;
  • Publication poses a significant threat to public safety or security;
  • Confidential information has been disclosed in violation of ethical or legal obligations;
  • Participant privacy cannot be protected through correction or anonymization.

When an article is removed:

  • Bibliographic information will remain publicly available whenever legally permissible;
  • The full text will be replaced by a Removal Notice explaining the reason for removal, consistent with applicable legal and ethical requirements.
 

Retractions

A Retraction is issued when a published article is determined to be fundamentally unreliable or when serious breaches of publication ethics have occurred.

Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to:

  • Fabrication or falsification of research data;
  • Serious methodological or analytical errors that invalidate the findings;
  • Plagiarism or extensive unattributed text reuse;
  • Duplicate or redundant publication;
  • Fraudulent or inappropriate authorship;
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect the credibility of the research;
  • Manipulation of the peer review process;
  • Image or data manipulation;
  • Serious violations of research ethics;
  • Unethical treatment of research participants;
  • Deliberate misrepresentation of legal authorities, judicial decisions, documentary evidence, or forensic findings.

When an article is retracted:

  • The article will remain part of the scholarly record whenever legally and ethically appropriate;
  • The article will be clearly marked as Retracted;
  • A separate Retraction Notice will explain the reasons for retraction;
  • The notice will identify who initiated the retraction (e.g., authors, editors, or publisher);
  • The Retraction Notice will remain permanently linked to the original article.
Where appropriate, the Retraction Notice may receive its own DOI.

Retractions are intended to correct the scholarly record and should not be interpreted as punitive measures against authors.

 

Reporting Post-Publication Concerns

Authors, readers, reviewers, institutions, legal professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders are encouraged to report suspected errors or ethical concerns regarding published articles.

Reports should include:

  • A clear description of the concern;
  • Supporting evidence where available;
  • Citation of the relevant article;
  • Contact information for follow-up correspondence.

All reports are treated confidentially and investigated objectively.

 

Editorial Investigation

When concerns are raised, the Editorial Office may:

  • Request clarification from the authors;
  • Seek additional documentation;
  • Consult reviewers or subject-matter experts;
  • Contact affiliated institutions where appropriate;
  • Obtain independent legal or ethical advice when necessary;
  • Conduct a formal editorial investigation.

Editorial decisions are based on the available evidence and the seriousness of the issue.

Where appropriate, authors will be given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is reached.

 

Preservation of the Scholarly Record

RSCSL seeks to preserve the scholarly record whenever possible.

Rather than removing published articles, the journal generally favors:

  • Corrections;
  • Errata;
  • Expressions of Concern;
  • Retractions with transparent notices.
Article removal is considered only in exceptional circumstances involving compelling legal or ethical obligations.

Commitment to Research Integrity

The Review of Studies on Criminology, Sociology, and Law (RSCSL) is committed to maintaining a trustworthy, transparent, and reliable scholarly record. Through the timely publication of errata, corrections, expressions of concern, retractions, and article removals where necessary, the journal promotes accountability, protects the integrity of published research, and ensures that readers have access to accurate and ethically sound scholarship in criminology, sociology, law, criminal justice, forensic science, public safety, governance, and related interdisciplinary disciplines.

 

Alignment with International Standards

This Errata, Corrections, and Retractions Policy has been developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles of publication ethics, editorial transparency, and responsible scholarly publishing and is aligned with:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) – Core Practices and guidance on corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, post-publication discussions, and preserving the scholarly record:
    https://publicationethics.org/
  • Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) – Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, requiring journals to maintain clear policies for corrections, retractions, editorial accountability, and research integrity:
    https://doaj.org/apply/guide/

RSCSL periodically reviews and updates this policy to ensure continued alignment with evolving international standards for publication ethics, editorial accountability, post-publication correction, and responsible open-access scholarly publishing.