Editorial Policies
Standards ensuring research integrity and quality.
Publication Ethics
Advanced Forensic Sciences adheres to rigorous ethical standards ensuring published research meets the highest integrity requirements. Our policies follow COPE guidelines and forensic science best practices.
Double-Blind Review
Author identities are concealed from reviewers and vice versa, ensuring unbiased evaluation based solely on scientific merit.
Expert Reviewers
Manuscripts are evaluated by 2-3 specialists with relevant forensic expertise in the submitted research domain.
Timely Decisions
Target first decision within 21 days. Authors receive detailed reviewer feedback supporting revision.
Appeals Process
Authors may appeal rejection decisions with substantive justification. Appeals receive independent review.
- Originality: All submissions screened for plagiarism. Authors must submit original work not published elsewhere
- Authorship: All listed authors must meet ICMJE criteria for substantial contributions
- Conflicts of Interest: All potential conflicts including funding sources must be disclosed
- Data Integrity: Fabrication, falsification, and inappropriate manipulation are prohibited
- Human/Animal Research: Appropriate ethical approvals must be documented
COPE Membership: JAFS follows Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines. Suspected misconduct is investigated following COPE procedures. Corrections and retractions are published when warranted.
Corrections
Published errors are addressed through corrections or errata. Authors should contact editors promptly upon discovering errors.
Retractions
Articles with serious integrity concerns are retracted following investigation with clear explanation.
Questions about editorial policies? Contact [email protected] for guidance on specific ethical requirements.