How do journals handle academic misconduct issues discovered during the submission process?

Journals actively investigate and address academic misconduct allegations during manuscript submission to maintain research integrity. They commonly have established policies following guidelines such as those from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Editorial teams initially screen submissions for red flags like plagiarism using specialized software, duplicated publication, or data fabrication. Suspected misconduct typically triggers a formal investigation involving editors, publishers, and often the authors' institutions. Confidentiality is maintained, and authors are granted an opportunity to respond to allegations before any final decision is reached. Journals base their actions on the severity and evidence, following transparent protocols to ensure fairness. When misconduct is suspected, the journal initiates a detailed process. Editors assess the evidence, request explanations from authors, and may consult peer reviewers or institutional ethics committees. If misconduct is confirmed, the submission is rejected, and the journal may issue corrections, retractions, report findings to institutional bodies, or impose sanctions such as banning future submissions. These measures protect the scholarly record and deter future violations.