Editorial Policies
1. Open Access, Copyright, Intellectual Property Rights and Licensing Policy
2. Conflict of Interest Policy
3. Funding Disclosure Policy
4. Research Data Availability and Sharing Policy
5. Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Manuscript Preparation
6. Post-Publication Policies
7. Digital Archiving and Self-Archiving Policy
8. Policy on Editorial Independence
9. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
10. Special Issues Policy
11. Disclaimer
12. Appeals and Complaints Policy
13. Advertising Policy
Editorial policies of Journal of Illicit Trade, Financial Crime, and Compliance (JITFCC) published by United Scholars Publishing are guided by established international ethical standards, including the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, and JITFCC is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity throughout the publication process.
1. Open Access, Copyright, Intellectual Property Rights and Licensing Policy
JITFCC is committed to promoting the widest possible dissemination of scholarly research through an open-access publishing model. All articles published in JITFCC are freely and permanently accessible online, allowing readers worldwide to read, download, share, and use the published content without subscription fees or access barriers. This approach supports greater research visibility, accessibility, and impact while ensuring that authors retain ownership of their scholarly work.
All published articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License. Under this license, users may copy, share, distribute, reproduce, and adapt the published work for non-commercial purposes, provided that appropriate credit is given to the author(s) and JITFCC, the license is acknowledged with a link, and any modifications are clearly indicated. Any commercial use, reproduction, or distribution of the published content requires prior permission from the copyright holder(s).
Authors retain full copyright and intellectual property rights in their articles. Publication in JITFCC does not constitute a transfer of copyright to JITFCC or its publisher. By accepting publication, authors grant JITFCC and United Scholars Publishing a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual license to publish, reproduce, distribute, archive, preserve, index, and promote the article in all current and future formats and to identify JITFCC as the original publisher.
1.1 Author Rights:
As copyright holders, authors are free to reuse and share their published work without seeking additional permission from JITFCC or the publisher, United Scholars Publishing. Authors may deposit the published version in personal, institutional, or subject repositories; include it in theses or dissertations; use it for teaching, academic, and professional purposes; reproduce it in future books or scholarly works; and revise, translate, or adapt it for future publications. Whenever the published article is reused or redistributed, authors should provide appropriate acknowledgment of the original publication in JITFCC and include the article’s DOI whenever possible.
2. Conflict of Interest Policy
JITFCC is committed to maintaining transparency, editorial independence, and public trust in the scholarly record. Authors, reviewers, editors, Guest Editors, and Editorial Board members must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, their decisions, judgments, or interpretation of research findings.
Authors are required to disclose all relevant conflicts of interest, including but not limited to research funding, institutional affiliations, employment or consultancy relationships, financial interests, patents, advisory roles, and other personal or professional relationships that may affect the research. If no conflicts exist, authors must include the statement: “The authors declare that they have no competing interests.”
Editors and reviewers must declare any potential conflicts and should not handle or evaluate manuscripts where their objectivity may be compromised. In such cases, JITFCC will assign the manuscript to an alternative editor or reviewer to ensure a fair, impartial, and independent evaluation process.
Disclosure of a conflict of interest does not necessarily prevent publication. JITFCC assesses each disclosure on a case-by-case basis and may require additional statements, editorial oversight, or other appropriate measures to safeguard transparency and research integrity.
Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may result in editorial action, including manuscript rejection, publication of a correction, or other measures to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.
3. Funding Disclosure Policy
To promote transparency and research integrity, all authors of JITFCC must disclose any financial support received for the research, preparation, or publication of their manuscript. This includes funding from government agencies, academic institutions, research councils, charitable organizations, commercial entities, or any other funding source.
Authors must identify each funding source, including the name of the funding organization and, where applicable, the grant or award number.
If a funding body had any role in the study—including the research design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of findings, manuscript preparation, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication—this involvement must be clearly described. If the funder had no role in these aspects of the research, authors should explicitly state this.
Complete and accurate funding disclosure is essential to ensure transparency, enable readers to assess potential sources of influence, and uphold the integrity of the scholarly record.
4. Research Data Availability and Sharing Policy
JITFCC supports transparency, reproducibility, and responsible research practices by encouraging authors to make the data underlying their research findings available whenever possible. Authors should share relevant research data unless ethical, legal, privacy, confidentiality, proprietary, or other legitimate restrictions prevent public access.
Research data may be shared through supplementary files, recognized institutional or public repositories, or discipline-specific data archives. Authors should provide appropriate identifiers, such as DOIs, accession numbers, or persistent links, to facilitate access and reuse of datasets.
To protect the integrity of JITFCC’s double-blind peer review process, authors must remove identifying information from datasets submitted during review. Where necessary, authors may use anonymous sharing links or restricted-access repositories for peer review purposes.
All manuscripts involving research data must include a Data Availability Statement explaining whether and how the underlying data can be accessed. As applicable, one of the following statements may be used by authors:
· The datasets generated and/or analyzed during this study are available at [Repository Name] via [DOI/accession number/persistent link].
· The datasets are not publicly available due to [reason] but may be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
· The data supporting the findings are included within the article and/or supplementary files.
· No new data were generated or analyzed in this study; therefore, data sharing is not applicable.
· The data cannot be publicly shared due to confidentiality, privacy, contractual, or legal restrictions.
JITFCC recognizes that responsible data sharing must balance openness with ethical and legal obligations related to research participants and data protection.
5. Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Manuscript Preparation
JITFCC recognizes the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in academic writing and research communication. Authors may use such tools for limited purposes, including improving language quality, grammar, spelling, readability, and manuscript presentation. However, AI tools must not replace the authors’ intellectual contributions, critical analysis, scientific judgment, or responsibility for the content of the manuscript.
Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and reliability of their submitted work. AI-assisted technologies must not be used to generate research data, fabricate or manipulate results, develop unsupported scientific interpretations, draw conclusions, or produce substantial scholarly content without meaningful human oversight and authorship.
5.1 Disclosure of AI Use
Authors must disclose the use of AI or AI-assisted technologies when they have been used beyond basic language editing. The disclosure should briefly describe the tool used, its purpose, and the extent of its contribution. This information should be provided in the cover letter and, where relevant, included in the manuscript.
5.2 AI and Authorship
AI tools and AI-assisted technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to JITFCC. Authorship requires human accountability, approval of the final manuscript, responsibility for the integrity of the work, and the ability to address ethical and scholarly concerns.
5.3 Author Responsibility
Authors are expected to use AI technologies responsibly and transparently while maintaining appropriate human oversight. The use of AI does not reduce or transfer authors’ responsibility for compliance with JITFCC’s publication ethics, authorship requirements, and standards of research integrity.
6. Post-Publication Policies
JITFCC is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. If concerns arise after publication, JITFCC follows established ethical procedures to investigate and address issues through appropriate post-publication actions.
6.1 Expression of Concern
An Expression of Concern may be issued when serious questions arise regarding a published article, but the available evidence is insufficient to warrant immediate correction or retraction. Such concerns may involve research integrity, data reliability, ethical compliance, or possible misconduct.
The notice serves as a transparent alert to readers while an investigation is ongoing and does not imply that the published work is invalid. It will remain permanently linked to the original article until the matter is resolved. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, further action may include a correction, retraction, or removal of the notice.
6.2 Article Correction
JITFCC will correct published articles when errors are identified that affect the accuracy, interpretation, or reliability of the work. Authors should promptly notify JITFCC of any significant errors discovered after publication.
Approved corrections will be published as an Erratum or Corrigendum and permanently linked to the original article to ensure transparency and preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.
6.3 Article Retraction
JITFCC follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when considering retractions. An article may be retracted when its findings are unreliable due to major errors, research misconduct, or violations of ethical publishing standards, including data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical research practices.
Retracted articles will remain accessible with a clear “Retracted” label, and a formal retraction notice explaining the reason will be published and linked to the original article. Retraction decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief following appropriate investigation and consultation with relevant parties where necessary.
7. Digital Archiving and Self-Archiving Policy
JITFCC is committed to ensuring the long-term preservation, accessibility, and availability of its published content. To protect the scholarly record against data loss or technological changes, all published articles are digitally archived through the LOCKSS system via the PKP Preservation Network, providing secure and permanent preservation of journal content.
JITFCC also supports responsible author self-archiving. Authors may deposit the accepted manuscript or published version in institutional, disciplinary, or other recognized repositories after publication. Any deposited version must acknowledge JITFCC as the original place of publication and include a link to the official version of record on JITFCC’s website.
8. Policy on Editorial Independence
JITFCC is committed to protecting editorial independence and ensuring that all publication decisions are made through a fair, transparent, and unbiased process. Editorial decisions are based exclusively on the scholarly quality, originality, methodological soundness, significance, and relevance of submitted manuscripts.
The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board have full responsibility and authority over all editorial matters, including manuscript assessment, peer review management, acceptance, and rejection decisions. These decisions are not influenced by external parties, including publishers, sponsors, advertisers, funders, or institutional affiliations.
Editors and reviewers are expected to exercise independent academic judgment and follow recognized standards of research and publication ethics, including applicable guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Any conflicts of interest that may affect editorial impartiality must be disclosed and appropriately managed, with individuals having relevant conflicts excluded from the decision-making process.
JITFCC maintains a clear separation between editorial activities and commercial, financial, or organizational interests. Advertising, sponsorship, and other sources of support have no influence on editorial content, peer review outcomes, or publication decisions.
9. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
JITFCC of Illicit Trade, Financial Crime and Compliance (JITFCC) is committed to promoting an inclusive, equitable, and respectful scholarly environment that values diversity of perspectives, expertise, and experiences. JITFCC recognizes that addressing complex issues related to illicit trade, financial crime, compliance, governance, and enforcement requires research contributions from diverse disciplines, regions, institutions, and professional backgrounds.
JITFCC welcomes submissions from researchers worldwide and encourages scholarship that reflects diverse geographical contexts, methodological approaches, legal and regulatory perspectives, and practical experiences. JITFCC values contributions that enhance understanding of the social, economic, institutional, and policy dimensions of illicit activities and compliance challenges across different jurisdictions.
Editorial decisions are based solely on academic and ethical considerations, including originality, research quality, methodological rigor, integrity, and relevance to JITFCC’s scope. JITFCC does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, age, disability, religion, language, political beliefs, institutional affiliation, career stage, socioeconomic background, or any other characteristic unrelated to scholarly merit.
JITFCC encourages diversity and broad representation among its editors, reviewers, and Editorial Board members by supporting participation from different regions, disciplines, and professional communities. Authors are encouraged to use respectful, inclusive, and unbiased language and to consider relevant issues of diversity, representation, and equity where they relate to their research.
JITFCC is committed to ensuring that all participants in the publishing process are treated with fairness, professionalism, and respect, while maintaining the highest standards of research integrity and ethical scholarly communication.
10. Special Issues Policy
10.1 Purpose
The Journal of Illicit Trade, Financial Crime and Compliance (JITFCC) publishes Special Issues on emerging and significant topics within its scope, including illicit trade, financial crime, anti-money laundering, corruption, fraud, sanctions, regulatory compliance, financial intelligence, law enforcement, and related interdisciplinary fields. Special Issues aim to advance scholarly discussion, promote collaboration, and provide comprehensive coverage of timely research themes.
10.2 Proposal and Approval
Special Issues are led by one or more Guest Editors with recognized expertise in the proposed subject area. Proposals should include the proposed title, scope, rationale, timeline, and details of the Guest Editor(s). All proposals are evaluated and approved by the Editor-in-Chief and/or the Editorial Board based on their scholarly merit, relevance, and feasibility.
10.3 Editorial Process
All manuscripts submitted to a Special Issue are subject to the Journal's standard editorial policies, publication ethics, and double-blind peer review procedures. Manuscripts are assessed solely on their originality, scientific quality, methodological rigor, relevance, and contribution to the field. Acceptance into a Special Issue is based entirely on editorial merit.
10.4 Responsibilities of Guest Editors
Guest Editors assist in managing the Special Issue by conducting an initial assessment of submissions, recommending qualified reviewers, overseeing the peer-review process, and providing editorial recommendations. They must maintain confidentiality, impartiality, and compliance with the Journal's ethical standards. The final decision on all manuscripts rests exclusively with the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor.
10.5 Conflict of Interest
Guest Editors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest. A Guest Editor who submits a manuscript to their own Special Issue will have no involvement in its editorial handling, reviewer selection, or publication decision. Such manuscripts will be managed independently by the Editor-in-Chief or an appointed editor. To preserve editorial independence, Guest Editor-authored papers should not exceed 25% of the published articles in a Special Issue.
10.6 Publication
Accepted manuscripts are published after successful peer review, editorial approval, copyediting, and production. Articles published in Special Issues receive the same DOI assignment, indexing, archiving, and publication status as articles published in regular issues.
10.7 Modification or Cancellation
The Journal reserves the right to modify, postpone, merge, or cancel a Special Issue when necessary to maintain academic quality, editorial integrity, or operational requirements. Manuscripts already under review or accepted may, where appropriate, be transferred to a regular issue with the authors' consent.
10.8 Article Processing Charges
Unless otherwise specified, articles accepted for publication in a Special Issue are subject to the Journal's standard Article Processing Charge (APC) policy. Payment or waiver of APCs has no influence on editorial or peer-review decisions.
11. Disclaimer
The views, opinions, analyses, interpretations, findings, and recommendations expressed in articles published in JITFCC of Illicit Trade, Financial Crime and Compliance (JITFCC) are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board, publisher, sponsoring organizations, or affiliated institutions.
While JITFCC applies rigorous editorial and peer review processes to promote the accuracy, quality, and integrity of published content, JITFCC does not warrant that all published information is free from errors or omissions. Readers should exercise their own professional judgment and independently assess the relevance, accuracy, and applicability of published information for research, policy development, compliance practices, enforcement strategies, legal analysis, or professional decision-making.
JITFCC, its editors, reviewers, Editorial Board members, publisher, and affiliated organizations accept no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, or consequences arising from the use, interpretation, or application of information published in JITFCC.
The publication of advertisements, sponsored materials, institutional announcements, or other non-editorial content, where applicable, does not constitute endorsement or approval by JITFCC. Editorial decisions and scholarly content remain independent of commercial, financial, political, or institutional interests.
JITFCC reserves the right to periodically review, revise, and update its editorial and publication policies in response to developments in scholarly publishing, research ethics, regulatory environments, and best editorial practices. The latest versions of all policies will be made available on JITFCC’s official website and will supersede previous versions.
12. Appeals and Complaints Policy
JITFCC is committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and accountable editorial process. Authors who believe that an editorial decision has been made based on a misunderstanding of their manuscript or an error in the review process may submit a formal appeal to JITFCC at appeals_and_complaints@unitedscholarspublishing.com.
Appeals must provide clear reasons for reconsideration and include any relevant supporting information. Each appeal will be assessed independently by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editorial representative who was not directly involved in the original decision, where appropriate. The outcome of the appeal review will be communicated to the author and will represent JITFCC’s final decision.
JITFCC also welcomes complaints concerning any aspect of its publishing activities, including editorial handling, peer review procedures, ethical concerns, or the conduct of editors, reviewers, or authors. Complaints should be submitted to appeals_and_complaints@unitedscholarspublishing.com with sufficient details to allow proper assessment.
All appeals and complaints are handled confidentially, fairly, and without bias. JITFCC will investigate concerns in accordance with its publication ethics policies and relevant best practices. Where necessary, appropriate corrective actions will be taken, and the complainant will be informed of the outcome within a reasonable timeframe.
13. Advertising Policy
JITFCC is committed to maintaining the integrity, independence, and credibility of its editorial and publishing processes.
13.1 Current Advertising Status
JITFCC does not currently accept or display commercial advertising, sponsored content, or promotional material on its website or, in its published articles.
13.2 Future Advertising
Should JITFCC decide to accept advertising in the future, all advertising activities will be governed by the following principles:
Advertising shall not influence editorial decisions, peer review, acceptance, rejection, or publication of manuscripts.
Editorial content and advertising shall remain clearly separated to avoid any actual or perceived conflict of interest.
Advertisements must comply with all applicable laws, ethical standards, and relevant regulatory requirements.
Advertisements that are false, misleading, deceptive, discriminatory, offensive, or promote illegal products, services, or activities will not be accepted.
Acceptance of an advertisement does not constitute JITFCC's endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of the advertised product, service, organization, or claims.
The Editor-in-Chief of JITFCC and United Scholars Publishing reserve the right to accept, reject, remove, or discontinue any advertisement at their sole discretion and without prior notice if it is considered inconsistent with JITFCC's mission, ethical standards, or publishing policies.
13.3 Sponsored Content
JITFCC does not publish sponsored articles, advertorials, or promotional content presented as scholarly or editorial material. Any sponsored content that may be considered in the future will be clearly identified and distinguished from peer-reviewed content.
13.4 Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions are based solely on the scientific quality, originality, ethical standards, and relevance of submitted manuscripts. Advertising, sponsorship, or commercial relationships shall have no influence on the editorial process or publication decisions.
