Complaint & Misconduct Policy

Complaints and Misconduct Policy

The Jurisocial Journal of Social Sciences welcomes complaints and concerns relating to its editorial processes, published content, and publication practices. The journal regards well-founded complaints as an opportunity to identify shortcomings, improve editorial procedures, and maintain high standards of scholarly publishing.

The journal is committed to handling complaints promptly, fairly, transparently, and confidentially, while ensuring that complainants are treated respectfully and without prejudice.

What Constitutes a Complaint?

For the purposes of this policy, a complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction concerning an action, decision, procedure, or conduct for which the Jurisocial Journal of Social Sciences has editorial or publishing responsibility.

A complaint may relate, for example, to:

  • Unreasonable or unexplained delays in the editorial or peer-review process;

  • Concerns regarding editorial conduct or communication;

  • Alleged failures to follow the journal's published policies or procedures;

  • Concerns regarding the handling of manuscripts, peer review, or publication decisions;

  • Alleged errors or serious problems in published content; or

  • Other substantial concerns relating to the journal's editorial or publishing processes.

A disagreement with an editorial decision does not, by itself, constitute a complaint. However, concerns that an editorial decision resulted from a significant procedural failure, conflict of interest, inappropriate conduct, or serious misjudgment may be raised through the complaints process.

Submission and Handling of Complaints

Complaints should be submitted in writing to the journal's editorial office through the official contact details provided on the journal's website. Where appropriate, the complaint should include sufficient information and supporting evidence to enable the journal to understand and investigate the matter.

The journal follows the following procedure:

  1. Acknowledgement: Complaints will be acknowledged as soon as reasonably practicable.

  2. Initial Review: The complaint will initially be reviewed by an appropriate member of the editorial team.

  3. Investigation: Where necessary, the journal will examine relevant records, correspondence, editorial decisions, peer-review reports, and other available evidence.

  4. Escalation: Where the matter cannot appropriately be resolved by the initial recipient, it will be referred to the Editor-in-Chief or another appropriate senior editorial authority.

  5. Response: The journal will provide a substantive response as soon