Complaints Procedure
Journal of Applied Cryptanalysis & System Integrity (JACSI)
Scope
This procedure covers complaints about:
- Editorial decisions or processes
- Peer review quality or conduct
- Ethical concerns about published articles
- Editorial Board member conduct
- Website accessibility or technical issues
- Any other aspect of JACSI's operations
This procedure does not cover:
- Manuscript rejections (see Appeals process in Peer Review Policy)
- Authorship disputes (see Ethics and Malpractice Statement)
How to Submit a Complaint
Email: [email protected]
Subject line: "Formal Complaint: [brief description]"
Your complaint should include:
1. Your name, affiliation, and contact details
2. The nature of the complaint (as specific as possible)
3. Any supporting documentation
4. The outcome you are seeking
Anonymous complaints will be considered but may be more difficult to investigate.
Process
| Step | Action | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acknowledgment of complaint | 5 business days |
| 2 | Initial assessment by Editor-in-Chief | 10 business days |
| 3 | Investigation (may involve Board members) | 30 business days |
| 4 | Response to complainant with findings and actions | 5 business days after investigation |
| 5 | Appeal (if unsatisfied) to Editorial Board | 30 business days |
Escalation
If the complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief personally:
- The complaint is handled by two Editorial Board members
- The Editor-in-Chief is excluded from all deliberations
- The Board members' decision is communicated directly to the complainant
External Escalation
If the complainant remains unsatisfied after the internal process:
- COPE: https://publicationethics.org/ — for publication ethics concerns
- DOAJ: https://doaj.org/ — for concerns about compliance with OA standards
- OASPA: https://oaspa.org/ — for concerns about publishing practices
Records
All complaints and their outcomes are recorded and reported in aggregate in the Annual Transparency Report (without identifying details).
