Correction and Retraction Policy

1. Policy Statement

The Journal of Community Empowerment for Multidisciplinary (JCEMTY) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal addresses errors and ethical concerns identified after publication through corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, depending on the issue's nature and severity. All decisions are made by the editorial team based on available evidence and applicable publication ethics standards.

2. Corrections

A correction may be issued when an error in a published article requires amendment but does not invalidate the principal findings or conclusions. Examples include errors in author names or affiliations, funding statements, acknowledgments, references, tables, figures, or other published information. Authors or readers may report errors to the editorial office. The editorial team will assess the issue and determine whether a formal correction is necessary. Published corrections will identify the original article, explain the changes made, and be linked to the original publication where possible. The article will remain accessible to preserve the publication record.

3. Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be issued when credible questions arise about the reliability or integrity of a published article, but the available evidence is insufficient for a final decision. This may occur while the journal seeks further evidence, contacts the authors or their institutions, or awaits the outcome of an investigation. The expression of concern will be linked to the affected article. The journal may subsequently issue a correction, retract the article, or close the case, depending on the findings.

4. Retractions

JCEMTY may retract a published article when substantial evidence indicates that its findings are unreliable or that serious ethical violations undermine the integrity of the publication. Grounds for retraction may include:

  • Fabrication or falsification of research data.
  • Significant plagiarism or unauthorized use of others' work.
  • Serious errors that invalidate the principal findings or conclusions.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication that seriously compromises the scholarly record.
  • Serious violations of research ethics or participant rights.
  • Manipulation of peer review or other publication processes.
  • Other substantiated misconduct that necessitates retraction.

Retraction decisions are based on an assessment of the available evidence. Authors will normally be given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.

5. Retraction Procedure

When retraction is necessary, JCEMTY will:

  1. Publish a retraction notice explaining the reason for the decision.
  2. Clearly identify and link the notice to the original article.
  3. Mark the article as retracted and, where technically possible, add a retraction watermark to its PDF.
  4. Retain the original article in the online archive where legally and ethically permissible, preserving the scholarly record.
  5. Update relevant article metadata and DOI records where applicable.

The retraction notice will be publicly accessible. The journal will not remove an article solely to conceal a publication error or research misconduct.

6. Editorial Assessment and Appeals

The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial team and independent experts where necessary, is responsible for assessing correction requests and potential retractions. The journal may request supporting documents, contact relevant authors or institutions, and seek independent advice. All cases will be handled fairly and confidentially where appropriate. Authors may appeal a decision by providing a clear explanation and relevant new evidence. Appeals will be assessed by an editor or adviser who was not responsible for the original decision and has no relevant conflict of interest.

7. Policy Commitment

JCEMTY is committed to correcting the scholarly record transparently and proportionately. A correction, expression of concern, or retraction will be issued only after appropriate editorial assessment, with the objective of protecting readers, research participants, and the integrity of scholarly communication.