Correction, Retraction, and Withdrawal Policies

 

Correction, Retraction, and Withdrawal Policies

Journal of Advanced Computer Science (JACS)

1. Purpose

The Journal of Advanced Computer Science (JACS) is committed to preserving the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. This policy defines the procedures for handling:

  • Corrections

  • Retractions

  • Withdrawals

  • (when required) Expressions of Concern

JACS follows recognized international standards and recommendations, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and best practices in scholarly publishing.

2. Definitions

2.1 Correction

A Correction is issued to address errors in a published article that:

  • occurred unintentionally,

  • do not invalidate the findings or conclusions,

  • require clarification or amendment to ensure accuracy.

A correction may be titled:

  • Correction

  • Erratum (journal error)

  • Corrigendum (author error)

2.2 Retraction

A Retraction is issued when an article is seriously flawed or unethical such that:

  • the results/conclusions are unreliable, or

  • the publication violates ethical standards.

Retractions aim to alert readers and maintain trust in the scholarly record.

2.3 Withdrawal

A Withdrawal refers to the removal of a manuscript from the editorial process before final publication (i.e., while under review, accepted but not yet published, or in production stage), due to justified reasons such as:

  • author request with valid justification,

  • major errors discovered,

  • ethical misconduct,

  • duplicate submission detected.

3. Correction Policy

3.1 When a Correction Will Be Issued

JACS may publish a Correction when:

  • there are minor errors in figures, tables, or text,

  • author affiliations, email, or ORCID were incorrect,

  • minor data reporting mistakes are found,

  • reference details require amendment,

  • errors do not change the scientific validity of the work.

3.2 How Corrections Are Published

  • A Correction Notice will be published as a separate document.

  • The notice will link to the original article.

  • The original article will remain accessible.

  • The article PDF may be updated with a watermark or footnote indicating that a correction has been issued.

  • All changes will be transparent.

4. Retraction Policy

4.1 Grounds for Retraction

JACS may retract a published article in cases including (but not limited to):

  • plagiarism

  • fabricated or falsified data

  • serious methodological or analytical errors

  • unethical research practices

  • duplicate publication

  • manipulated peer review

  • unauthorized use of copyrighted material

  • authorship manipulation (ghost/gift authorship)

  • major conflict of interest not disclosed

4.2 Retraction Procedure

The retraction process includes:

  1. Investigation

    • The Editor-in-Chief initiates review of allegations.

    • Authors may be contacted for explanation.

    • Reviewers or institutions may be consulted if needed.

  2. Decision

    • A retraction decision is made based on evidence.

    • The journal may consult publisher ethics committee.

  3. Retraction Notice Publication

    • A formal Retraction Notice will be published clearly identifying:

      • the article title, authors, DOI, and citation,

      • the reason for retraction (clear but professional),

      • whether authors agreed or disagreed with the retraction.

    • The original article remains online but marked:

      • “RETRACTED” clearly on each page.

4.3 Retraction Metadata and Indexing

JACS ensures that retracted articles are flagged clearly in:

  • journal website,

  • PDF versions,

  • metadata and indexing services.

5. Withdrawal Policy

5.1 Withdrawal by Author Request

An author may request withdrawal when:

  • there is a serious error discovered before publication,

  • submission was made mistakenly,

  • authorship dispute arises before publication.

However:

  • withdrawal requests must be submitted formally in writing.

  • the request must include manuscript ID and reason.

  • withdrawal is not permitted simply due to dissatisfaction with peer review feedback.

5.2 Withdrawal Due to Ethical Misconduct

JACS may withdraw a submission at any stage (before publication) if:

  • plagiarism is confirmed,

  • duplicate submission is detected,

  • authorship manipulation occurs,

  • unethical data practices are suspected.

Such manuscripts may be:

  • rejected immediately,

  • banned temporarily from future submission,

  • reported to institutions where appropriate.

5.3 Withdrawal After Acceptance

If a manuscript has been accepted but not yet published:

  • withdrawal is allowed only in exceptional cases with strong justification.

  • the journal may apply sanctions if unethical behavior is involved.

6. Expression of Concern

JACS may publish an Expression of Concern when:

  • strong concerns exist,

  • investigation is still ongoing,

  • the outcome is unclear but readers must be informed.

The expression of concern will remain linked to the article until final resolution (correction or retraction).

7. Requests and Reporting Issues

Requests for correction/retraction or reports of concerns may be submitted by:

  • authors,

  • readers,

  • reviewers,

  • institutions,

  • editorial board members.

All reports should include evidence and clear explanation.

Contact Email: [Insert JACS Official Email]

8. Transparency and Record Integrity

JACS ensures that:

  • publication updates are transparent,

  • scholarly record is maintained,

  • readers are clearly informed of article status,

  • COPE guidance is followed in decision-making.

9. Policy Updates

This policy may be revised periodically to reflect updated best practices and ethical standards in scholarly publishing.