Allegations of Misconduct

JPT, is committed to maintaining the integrity, reliability, and transparency of the scholarly record. JPT follows the COPE Core Practices and relevant COPE guidelines and flowcharts when handling allegations of research or publication misconduct. This policy applies to manuscripts under consideration, published articles, peer-review activities, and the conduct of authors, editors, reviewers, and journal personnel.

1. Types of Misconduct

Research or publication misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling, or undisclosed duplicate or redundant publication.
  • Fabrication, falsification, or misleading manipulation of data or images.
  • Honorary, gift, guest, purchased, or ghost authorship.
  • Submission without the knowledge or approval of legitimate authors.
  • Manipulated peer review or false reviewer identities.
  • Citation manipulation.
  • Failure to disclose relevant competing interests.
  • Unethical research or absence of required ethical approval, informed consent, permits, or regulatory authorization.
  • Unauthorized use of confidential, copyrighted, or proprietary material.
  • Breaches of manuscript or reviewer confidentiality.
  • Fabrication of references, ethical approvals, permits, or research records.
  • Paper-mill activity.
  • Misuse of AI that compromises the originality, accuracy, confidentiality, or integrity of the work.

2. Reporting an Allegation

Allegations may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, institutions, funding organizations, ethics committees, or other parties to jpt@agr.unand.ac.id.

A report should include, when available:

  • The article title, authors, DOI, or manuscript identification number.
  • A clear description of the concern.
  • The relevant passages, figures, tables, data, or publications.
  • Sources of suspected overlap.
  • Supporting evidence or documentation.

Anonymous reports may be considered when they contain sufficiently specific and verifiable information. An allegation alone does not establish misconduct.

3. Confidentiality and Impartiality

JPT will handle allegations confidentially and share information only with persons or organizations whose involvement is necessary for a fair assessment.

The identity of the reporting person will be protected as far as reasonably possible, subject to legal requirements and the needs of a fair investigation.

Individuals with relevant competing interests must not participate in the assessment or decision. Allegations concerning the Editor-in-Chief will be handled by the publisher or an independent qualified person appointed by the publisher.

4. Assessment Procedure

JPT will initially assess whether the concern falls within its responsibility, whether sufficient evidence is available, and whether immediate action or referral is necessary.

The journal may:

  1. Request clarification or supporting documentation.
  2. Inform the persons concerned and provide a reasonable opportunity to respond.
  3. Request original data, images, research records, approvals, permits, or authorship documentation.
  4. Consult independent experts.
  5. Suspend manuscript processing while the concern is assessed.
  6. Refer the matter to the relevant institution or competent authority.
  7. Preserve relevant records and correspondence.

JPT does not replace a formal institutional investigation. The journal may nevertheless take necessary editorial action while an investigation is ongoing.

If the evidence does not substantiate the allegation, JPT may close the case and inform the relevant parties as appropriate.

5. Allegations Before Publication

Depending on the evidence and seriousness of the concern, JPT may request clarification, supporting documentation, revision, attribution, or disclosure; suspend processing; decline external review; reject the manuscript; or notify the relevant institution or authority.

6. Allegations After Publication

JPT will assess the effect of the concern on the accuracy, reliability, ethical acceptability, or integrity of the article. Any necessary correction, Expression of Concern, retraction, or exceptional removal will be handled under JPT’s Correction and Retraction Policy.

7. Principles Governing Editorial Actions

Actions must be proportionate to the evidence, seriousness of the concern, and responsibilities of those involved. Decisions will not be based solely on a similarity score, AI-detection result, or unverified allegation. Anonymous reports will be assessed on the quality and verifiability of their evidence. Where serious or repeated misconduct is established, JPT may impose a time-limited restriction on participation as an author, reviewer, or editor. Any restriction must be justified and communicated in writing, specifying its scope, duration, and grounds for reconsideration.

8. Communication

JPT will communicate relevant findings and decisions to the parties directly involved. Confidential investigation files and personal information will not normally be published. Necessary public notices will follow the Correction and Retraction Policy.

9. Reconsideration and Complaints

A directly affected person may request reconsideration by identifying a significant factual, procedural, or evidentiary error and providing supporting evidence. Whenever practicable, the request will be assessed by a qualified person who was not solely responsible for the original decision. Appeals concerning acceptance or rejection follow JPT’s Publication Ethic.

10. Record Keeping

JPT will maintain confidential records of allegations, evidence, correspondence, assessments, referrals, and editorial actions.