Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism Policy
Upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and originality in legal scholarship.
Our Commitment to Originality
Juris Criminalis maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism in all its forms. We are committed to publishing only original work that contributes meaningfully to legal scholarship. Every manuscript submitted to our journal undergoes rigorous plagiarism screening to ensure the integrity of our published content.
This policy applies to all submissions, regardless of the author's affiliation, nationality, or academic status. By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that their work is original and has not been copied from other sources without proper attribution.
Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the act of using another person's ideas, words, data, or work without proper acknowledgment, presenting them as one's own. In the context of legal scholarship, plagiarism includes but is not limited to:
- Copying text, ideas, or legal arguments from published or unpublished sources without citation
- Paraphrasing another author's work without proper attribution
- Using legal cases, statutes, or regulations discussed by others without acknowledgment
- Reusing one's own previously published work without disclosure (self-plagiarism)
- Submitting work that has been published elsewhere or is under consideration by another journal
- Fabricating or falsifying legal data, sources, or references
Types of Plagiarism
Authors should be aware of the various forms of plagiarism that are considered unethical in academic publishing:
Verbatim (Direct) Plagiarism
Word-for-word copying of text from a source without quotation marks and proper citation. This is the most obvious and serious form of plagiarism.
Mosaic (Patchwriting) Plagiarism
Combining phrases from different sources with minor changes in wording, while maintaining the original structure and ideas without proper attribution.
Paraphrasing Plagiarism
Restating another author's ideas or arguments in different words without acknowledging the original source of those ideas.
Self-Plagiarism
Reusing one's own previously published work, data, or text without disclosure or citation. This includes submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.
Accidental Plagiarism
Unintentional failure to cite sources, misquoting information, or improper paraphrasing. While unintentional, it is still considered a breach of academic integrity.
Source-Based Plagiarism
Citing non-existent sources, providing incorrect citation information, or citing sources that were not actually consulted in the research process.
Plagiarism Screening Process
Every manuscript submitted to Juris Criminalis undergoes a systematic plagiarism screening process using industry-standard tools:
Initial Check
All submissions are screened upon receipt using Turnitin software.
Similarity Report
A detailed similarity report is generated and reviewed by the editorial team.
Manual Review
Editors manually assess flagged content to distinguish between plagiarism and legitimate citations.
Decision
Based on findings, the manuscript is accepted, sent for revision, or rejected.
Similarity Index Threshold
Juris Criminalis maintains a maximum similarity index threshold of 25%. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will be returned to the author for revision or rejected, depending on the severity and nature of the similarities.
- Similarity below 25% with proper citations may be acceptable
- Single-source similarity above 5% requires explanation
- Common legal phrases and standard terminology are excluded from calculation
- Properly quoted text with citation is not considered plagiarism
Consequences of Plagiarism
When plagiarism is detected, the following actions may be taken depending on the severity and stage of publication:
Minor Plagiarism (25-35%)
- Manuscript returned for revision
- Author must properly cite all sources
- Re-screening required after revision
- Warning letter issued
Substantial Plagiarism (35-50%)
- Immediate rejection of manuscript
- Author notified in writing
- Author's institution may be informed
- Future submissions scrutinized
Severe Plagiarism (>50%)
- Immediate rejection and blacklisting
- Author's institution formally notified
- Ban from future submissions (1-3 years)
- Reported to relevant authorities
Plagiarism After Publication
- Article retracted from the journal
- Retraction notice published
- Indexing services notified
- Permanent record of retraction
How to Avoid Plagiarism
Authors can ensure their work is free from plagiarism by following these best practices:
Proper Citation
Always cite sources using the Chicago Manual of Style. Include footnotes for all borrowed ideas, data, and quotations.
Use Quotation Marks
When using exact words from a source, enclose them in quotation marks and provide a proper citation with page numbers.
Effective Paraphrasing
When paraphrasing, completely restructure sentences and use your own words while still citing the original source.
Use Reference Managers
Utilize reference management software like Mendeley or Zotero to organize sources and generate accurate citations.
Keep Research Notes
Maintain detailed notes during research to track which ideas came from which sources, preventing accidental plagiarism.
Self-Check Before Submission
Use plagiarism detection tools to screen your manuscript before submission and address any flagged content.
Self-Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication
Self-plagiarism occurs when an author reuses significant portions of their own previously published work without proper disclosure. Juris Criminalis considers the following as self-plagiarism:
- Submitting a manuscript that has been published in another journal
- Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously
- Republishing substantial portions of previously published work without citation
- "Salami slicing" — breaking up a single study into multiple papers to increase publication count
Exception: Authors may build upon their previously published conference papers or working papers, provided that: (1) the new manuscript contains significant new content (at least 30% new material), (2) the previous publication is clearly cited, and (3) the editor is informed during submission.
Appeal and Dispute Process
If an author believes that a plagiarism finding is incorrect, they may appeal the decision by following these steps:
- Submit a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief within 14 days of notification
- Provide detailed explanation and evidence supporting the appeal
- The editorial board will review the appeal and similarity report
- A final decision will be communicated within 30 days
- The decision of the editorial board is final and binding
Reporting Suspected Plagiarism
If you suspect that a published article in Juris Criminalis contains plagiarized content, please report it to our editorial team. All reports will be investigated thoroughly and confidentially.
Contact us at: journal.juriscriminalis@gmail.com
