Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Editorial Policies

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The Review of Studies on Criminology, Sociology, and Law (RSCSL) recognizes that Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies—including large language models (LLMs), AI-assisted writing tools, machine learning applications, and image-generation systems—are becoming increasingly integrated into research and scholarly communication. While these technologies may assist authors in improving the readability, organization, and efficiency of manuscript preparation, they also introduce important ethical, legal, and scholarly considerations.

RSCSL supports the responsible and transparent use of AI technologies while maintaining that authors remain fully accountable for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and ethical compliance of all submitted work. The use of AI must never compromise scientific rigor, legal accuracy, research integrity, editorial independence, or public trust in scholarly publishing.

 

Principles Governing the Use of AI

Authors may use AI tools to assist with limited aspects of manuscript preparation provided that such use is:

  • Transparent;
  • Ethically appropriate;
  • Properly disclosed;
  • Consistent with responsible research practices.

The use of AI must not replace the intellectual, analytical, interpretative, or scholarly contributions expected of human authors.

 

Acceptable Uses of AI

RSCSL permits the responsible use of AI tools for purposes such as:

  • Improving grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language clarity;
  • Enhancing readability and writing style;
  • Formatting references and citations under author supervision;
  • Translating text while ensuring accuracy through human verification;
  • Assisting with coding or programming under appropriate validation;
  • Supporting data organization or visualization;
  • Assisting with literature searches or information retrieval, provided that all sources are independently verified.

All AI-assisted outputs must be carefully reviewed and validated by the authors before submission.

 

Prohibited Uses of AI

AI tools must not be used to:

  • Generate original research findings;
  • Fabricate, falsify, or manipulate data;
  • Create fictitious citations or references;
  • Produce misleading legal interpretations or policy analyses;
  • Generate peer review reports while acting as a reviewer without authorization;
  • Replace critical scholarly judgment, legal reasoning, or scientific interpretation;
  • Produce fabricated interviews, case studies, survey responses, or participant data;
  • Circumvent plagiarism detection or other editorial screening processes;
  • Generate images, figures, or other research materials that intentionally misrepresent research findings.

Any misuse of AI that compromises research integrity constitutes publication misconduct.

 

AI Cannot Be an Author

Generative AI systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to RSCSL.

Artificial intelligence systems cannot:

  • Accept responsibility for published work;
  • Approve the final manuscript;
  • Disclose conflicts of interest;
  • Meet accepted criteria for authorship;
  • Exercise independent scholarly judgment;
  • Assume accountability for research integrity.

Only individuals who satisfy the journal's authorship criteria may be listed as authors.

 

Disclosure Requirements

Authors must disclose the use of Generative AI when it has made a meaningful contribution to manuscript preparation.

The disclosure should identify:

  • The AI tool or system used;
  • The purpose for which it was used;
  • The extent of its contribution.

This disclosure should appear in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the Acknowledgments or a dedicated AI Disclosure Statement, unless otherwise instructed by the journal.

An example disclosure is:

AI Disclosure Statement: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [Name of AI Tool] to assist with language editing and improving readability. The authors reviewed, verified, and edited all AI-generated content and accept full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript.

Routine use of basic spelling or grammar checking software does not require disclosure.

 

Author Responsibility

Authors remain fully responsible for every aspect of the manuscript, including content generated or assisted by AI.

Authors must ensure that:

  • All factual information is accurate;
  • Legal analyses are correct and appropriately supported;
  • References are authentic and properly cited;
  • AI-generated text has been carefully reviewed and revised;
  • No confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information has been improperly entered into AI systems;
  • The manuscript complies with the journal's ethical standards.

The use of AI does not transfer responsibility from the authors.

 

AI and Research Data

AI must not be used to fabricate, alter, manipulate, or generate research data presented as authentic findings.

Authors must not use AI to:

  • Invent participant responses;
  • Generate fictitious interviews;
  • Create fabricated datasets;
  • Produce false statistical analyses;
  • Alter forensic evidence or legal documents;
  • Misrepresent empirical observations.

All reported data must accurately reflect the research that was actually conducted.

 

AI and Peer Review

Editors and reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts submitted for review.

Because many publicly available AI systems retain or process user-submitted information, reviewers and editors should not upload confidential manuscripts, reviewer reports, or unpublished data into AI tools unless the journal has explicitly authorized the use of secure AI systems that protect confidentiality and intellectual property.

Peer reviewers remain solely responsible for:

  • Independent scholarly evaluation;
  • Confidentiality;
  • Objective assessment;
  • Ethical review practices.

AI may not replace the expert judgment required in peer review.

 

Editorial Assessment

The Editorial Office may evaluate disclosed AI use to determine whether it complies with the journal's policies.

Where concerns arise, editors may request:

  • Additional disclosure;
  • Clarification regarding AI use;
  • Revision of AI-generated content;
  • Documentation concerning the role of AI in manuscript preparation.

Failure to disclose significant AI use may constitute a breach of publication ethics.

 

Misuse of AI

Improper use of AI may be treated as research or publication misconduct.

Examples include:

  • Fabrication or falsification of research;
  • AI-generated plagiarism;
  • Citation fabrication;
  • Undisclosed AI-generated manuscripts;
  • Manipulation of images or figures;
  • Misrepresentation of AI-generated content as original human scholarship;
  • Unauthorized use of confidential manuscripts in AI systems.

Where misconduct is confirmed, RSCSL may:

  • Reject the manuscript;
  • Suspend editorial consideration;
  • Request corrections;
  • Retract published articles;
  • Notify relevant institutions when appropriate.

Editorial actions will be proportionate to the seriousness of the misconduct.

Commitment to Responsible AI Use

The Review of Studies on Criminology, Sociology, and Law (RSCSL) supports the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of artificial intelligence in scholarly publishing. AI technologies should enhance—not replace—human scholarship, critical thinking, legal reasoning, and scientific integrity. By requiring transparency, human oversight, and accountability, the journal seeks to ensure that published research remains trustworthy, reproducible, ethically sound, and reflective of genuine scholarly contributions.

 

Alignment with International Standards

This policy has been developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles governing research transparency, data sharing, reproducibility, privacy protection, and responsible scholarly publishing. It is informed by the guidance and recommendations of:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) – Core Practices and guidance on research data, data sharing, research integrity, confidentiality, and ethical publication:
    https://publicationethics.org/
  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) – Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work, including recommendations on data sharing statements, research transparency, and reproducibility:
    https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/
  • Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) – Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, supporting transparent editorial policies, responsible research reporting, and openness in scholarly communication:
    https://doaj.org/apply/guide/
  • Republic Act No. 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012, Philippines) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, administered by the National Privacy Commission, governing the lawful processing, protection, and disclosure of personal data in research:
    https://privacy.gov.ph/data-privacy-act/

REABMS periodically reviews and updates this policy to ensure continued alignment with evolving international standards for research transparency, data availability, publication ethics, data protection, editorial integrity, and responsible open-access scholarly publishing.