Complaints and Appeals
Jurnal Kebijakan Publik dan Pembangunan Daerah is committed to handling complaints and appeals fairly, transparently, confidentially, and without undue delay. Authors, reviewers, readers, and other parties may raise concerns regarding the journal's editorial process, publication ethics, editorial conduct, or other matters related to the journal.
This policy distinguishes between complaints, which concern the conduct or administration of the journal and its publication process, and appeals, which concern requests for reconsideration of an editorial decision.
Complaints
Complaints may relate to matters including, but not limited to:
- the handling of manuscripts or the editorial process;
- unreasonable delays in editorial or peer-review procedures;
- the conduct of editors, reviewers, or other parties involved in the publication process;
- concerns regarding publication ethics, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, or editorial integrity;
- published content or post-publication editorial actions; and
- other matters concerning the journal's policies or publication practices.
Complaints should clearly describe the issue concerned and, where possible, include relevant supporting information or documentation. Complaints may be submitted through the journal's official Contact channel.
The journal will review the complaint and seek clarification or additional information where necessary. Complaints will be handled by an editor or responsible party who is not directly involved in the matter whenever this is reasonably possible.
If a complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, the matter may be referred to another appropriate member of the Editorial Board or to the publisher, the Regional Development Planning, Research, and Innovation Agency (BAPPERIDA) of Ngawi Regency, to ensure an impartial review.
Appeals Against Editorial Decisions
Authors may appeal an editorial decision when they believe that a significant error, misunderstanding, procedural issue, or relevant scholarly consideration affected the decision on their manuscript.
An appeal should provide a clear and reasoned explanation of the grounds for reconsideration and should address the editorial or reviewer comments relevant to the disputed decision. An appeal should not consist solely of disagreement with the outcome of peer review.
The submission of an appeal does not guarantee that the original editorial decision will be changed. The journal may consult the handling editor, members of the Editorial Board, the original reviewers, or additional independent experts where appropriate.
Where an appeal is considered to have sufficient grounds, the manuscript or editorial decision may be reassessed. The resulting decision will be communicated to the author together with an appropriate explanation.
Independence and Conflicts of Interest
Individuals with a direct conflict of interest in the matter should not be responsible for deciding the outcome of a complaint or appeal. Where necessary, the matter may be referred to another editor, an independent expert, or the publisher for further consideration.
Confidentiality and Fair Treatment
Complaints and appeals will be handled with appropriate confidentiality. Information will only be shared with parties whose involvement is necessary to investigate and resolve the matter.
The journal will seek to ensure that individuals who raise complaints or appeals in good faith are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged solely because they have raised a legitimate concern.
Outcome
The journal will communicate the outcome of a complaint or appeal after the matter has been sufficiently reviewed. Where an error or procedural problem is identified, the journal will take appropriate corrective action consistent with its editorial policies and publication ethics principles.
For matters involving potential research or publication misconduct, the journal may apply the procedures described in its Publication Ethics policy and may seek clarification from relevant institutions or other parties where appropriate.
